Law Roach: The Return of Recklessness in Fashion

By Anna Kate Mereness

Edited by Taylor Morgan

Law Roach, a soon-to-be industry icon, found his passion for fashion in the South Side of Chicago. Born in 1978, Roach discovered the beauty of styling through his neighborhood, the elegance of film and television and, surprisingly, his grandparents. 

After attending Chicago State to study psychology, Roach found himself falling in love with vintage clothing and repurposing. He began his fashion career by opening “Deliciously Vintage” as a vintage broker and curator. The shop gained major attention when rapper Kanye West visited in 2009, prompting Roach to make his move to Los Angeles, California. 

Not knowing much about Hollywood, Roach found his first client: a 14-year-old Disney starlet, Zendaya. He credits much of his success to their ongoing 15-year relationship. The stylist was quickly noticed for his daring looks. He went on to style various celebrities, including Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, Priyanka Chopra, Hunter Schafer, Ariana Grande, Bella Hadid and Demi Lovato. 

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Though Roach is undoubtedly a styling trailblazer, he thinks of himself more as an image architect. Roach is known for focusing on the full picture and ambiance of the look, rather than just color schemes and patterns. In his book, “How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architect,” Roach emphasizes embracing storytelling and finding emotion within looks instead of chasing trends. He urges both clients and readers to embrace their identities and individuality through fashion. 

Roach is also known to lean heavily into method dressing. According to vogue.com, “method dressing is when an actor pays homage to the film they’re promoting through clothing.” Though method dressing has recently gained mass traction, it is not a new phenomenon. This styling technique has appeared throughout fashion history, from Barbra Streisand and Geena Davis to Angelina Jolie and Blake Lively. Roach’s interpretation blends elegance and boldness. This technique has most notably been showcased within multiple of Zendaya’s press tours, including 

“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Challengers,” and “Dune 2,” all styled by Roach. By applying elements from the film and incorporating them into each look–whether that be a tennis-polo-inspired Jacquemus gown, an archival Mugler space suit or a Roberto Cavalli spider web gown—Roach has made method dressing a defining signature. 

Undoubtedly daring, Roach has revived storytelling and fearlessness in fashion. His artistry will not go unnoticed; Roach will go down in history as one of the boldest stylists in the industry.