Law Roach’s World: His New Book and Bag of Choice

Step into the universe of the coolest creatives in the fashion industry with our new series My World, where readers will discover how the top stylists, designers, and tastemakers built their careers; their under-the-radar restaurants and hotels, beloved deep-cut album, and fashion finds; etiquette rules they stand by; and so much more.

Behind many significant style moments, you can find a stylist who first envisioned that now-famous image—not infrequently, that person has been Law Roach. Known as “the image architect,” Roach has built his career in the fashion-and-entertainment industry by meticulously crafting the image of some of the more influential people in Hollywood. Even if you can’t rattle off a list of his most noteworthy looks as a stylist, you’ve seen his work. Law has been the force behind some of the most viral red carpet moments in recent memory for stars such as Zendaya, Céline Dion, Kerry Washington, Ariana Grande, Bella Hadid, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more. His success can’t be simplified into a client list, because he’s attained other accolades, too.

Law has made history throughout his career, as he’s often been “one of the first” to inhabit spaces in which many Black creatives before him could have never imagined reaching. The fact that a young Black man from the South Side of Chicago could wind up being one of the most influential stylists in the world was seemingly impossible, but then again, it reflects Law’s innate ability to bring forth unimaginable possibilities. After all, he was the first African American to grace the cover of The Hollywood Reporter‘s Most Powerful Stylists issue. On top of that, he won the inaugural Stylist Award for American Fashion at the CFDA Awards not once but twice. With so much success, it surprised many in the industry when he announced he’d be stepping back from styling in 2023 (with the exception of continuing to work with Zendaya and Céline Dion).

Although the move may have shocked many, we surmise after our conversation with Law that his intention wasn’t stepping away so much as stepping into himself again. That’s evident in the shift we’ve seen him make from building the public personas of stars to establishing a new pathway for the next generation of creatives. In the last few months, he’s announced his acquisition of the School of Style, an educational service that provides the tools, resources, and knowledge for aspiring stylists. Additionally, he’s on the tail end of the release of his first book, How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence From the World’s Only Image Architect, which is “part self-help, part manifesto,” all aimed at helping others cultivate their personal style. Law’s new projects reflect his focus on the bigger picture in many ways. It’s that innovative vision that compelled us to interview him to launch the My World series—thankfully for us, he obliged. Ahead, you’ll get a glimpse into Law Roach’s world, including his current projects, styling moments, and so much more.

A collage showing the stylist Law Roach's world, including his style inspirations, Cher, Grace Jones, Zendaya, and Celine Dion

(Image credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Keith Hamshere/Getty Images; Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images; Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Getty; Pictured: Christian Louboutin So Kate Pumps ($795))

What style icons are on your inspiration board? And what do you love most about them?