Law Roach Opens Up About Life After Retirement: ‘I Just Want to Feel Free’

Law Roach has come a long way since his days as a Chicago antiques broker. The self-proclaimed image architect has built a career that has been hyper-focused on making women look and feel beautiful, a task he doesn’t take lightly. The 46-year-old visionary is responsible for positioning some of the most talented women in entertainment as influential figures in fashion.

Zendaya Coleman is one of his most high-profile clients. They began working together when she was 14, during her time at Disney. Roach dressed her for red-carpet events but quickly upped the ante during Fashion Week in 2014. Her colorful Muiniko coat sparked a viral moment that catapulted Coleman onto the fashion scene, forever changing her career.

In an interview with Issa Rae, the actress shared the strategy she and Roach used to gain visibility. “Another thing that I think helped me create an avenue or a path that was outside of Disney Channel was fashion. I was showing up in places I shouldn’t have been just to get the look,” she explained. “I was called a space filler. ‘She just shows up in everything.’ I was like, yeah, but I look good!”

The rest is history. Roach has amassed a long list of A-list stars, including Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, Megan Thee Stallion, Ariana Grande, Lindsay Lohan and more. And while he claims to be retired, the image architect has barely scratched the surface of his influence.

In an exclusive interview during Revolt World 2024, Law Roach shares his inspirations, how he stays authentic, and what life on the other side of styling awaits him.

Law Roach Prepares for Life After Retirement

Hi beautiful: I love the way you can just show up without any qualms. In a world where black creators are watered down, they can’t show up fully. Where do you get the courage?

Roach Law: I don’t know if I had the courage when I started doing this. I want to do what felt right to me, and also think about the people who were watching me and the people who were following me. Every time I can say something that makes a little difference, it makes it easier for people who look like me, who want to do what I do, who want to be able to walk into the rooms that I could walk into, to get there a little easier.

I also have a lot of kids in the fashion industry and people that I mentor, and if I was silent, it wouldn’t help their journey at all. That’s why I do it. And if I have to take a beating or become someone’s least favorite person because of something I said, that’s okay with me.

HB: You are someone that many stylists look up to. Who is your Holy Grail of fashion in the world of stylists? Who has looked up to you?

LR: You know what, I didn’t really have anyone to look up to because coming from Chicago, that world was so foreign to me. I did, in terms of music. Obviously, there was Misa Hilton and June Ambrose. And on the Hollywood side, there was Rachel Zoe, whose show kind of gave me a blueprint of what I wanted my career to look like. But I didn’t really have a chance to mentor or intern or work for a stylist. I made a lot of mistakes, but I just moved to L.A. and had a dream and did everything I could to make it happen.

HB:When you think about everything you have achieved, what you didn’t expect and what you really want to achieve?

LR: I didn’t expect to be — I hate to even say it — I didn’t expect to be famous in any way. It was kind of a byproduct of the job.

I have a lot of things that I want to achieve. I wrote this book called “How to Build a Fashion Icon.” I have a school, a digital online school that I just got, that will help bridge the gap between people who want to be stylists and people who work in the industry. I’m trying to build a platform to give people everything that I didn’t have. Maybe a little acting. I just want to feel free. I feel good. I’m in a place now where I can try to do whatever I want and just take risks. And if it works out, it works out. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t work out.

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