In this day and age, it seems like we never know what to expect from a red carpet. And from press tours and themed galas such as The MET to black-tie affairs like the Oscars and Festival de Cannes occurring on a more-than-regular basis, it’s not as if there’s lack of material for celebs and stylists to indulge in. So why is it that the red carpet has seemingly lost its touch over the last five years?
Of course, throughout fashion history, there’s always been room– and, to be fair, necessity– for one or two oddball looks on a carpet (we’re looking at you, Katy Perry). Only it seems that now, everyone wants to go against the grain, and the element of cohesiveness and respect for the event at hand is getting lost in translation. While a celebrity might be one of the best-dressed at the Grammys, their afterparty look could be a complete disaster. An A-lister’s gala ensemble could disregard a theme completely while their interviewer steals the show. That's right, Genesis Suero understood the assignment.
Celebrities rarely have a cohesive and consistent look throughout one award season, let alone a year or more, and many of these experimental looks can leave us fashion enthusiasts wondering if it's even worth trying to understand and enjoy celebrity fashion. It’s the industry’s obsession with the new. And don’t get us wrong, it’s good to stand out, but it’s better to do it right. And so we can do what any other enthusiast would and turn to the red carpet’s current it-girl and her loyal stylist: Zendaya and Law Roach.
Who is Law Roach?
It's no secret that Zendaya is one of the best dressed celebrities on the red carpet today, but many are unaware that most of her looks are carefully curated by her stylist, Law Roach, who also happens to be the man behind many iconic looks worn by Hunter Schafer, Ariana Grande, Anya Taylor-Joy, and countless others.
via Getty
From Ariana Grande’s 2020 Grammy’s gown to Priyanka Chopra’s Robert Wun dress worn to a 2022 Bvlgari event, Law Roach never misses when it comes to his clients' looks. From his beginnings as a vintage shop owner in New York and Chicago, he is now one of the most prolific “image architects” in Hollywood today. And while he does do miscellaneous styling, over the course of the past year, he’s been working almost exclusively with Zendaya.
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Roach has a plethora of reasons that make him such a standout stylist, but the foundation of his success is his incredible understanding of the world around him. While clearly versed in high fashion, he’s not slow to nod to streetwear, current trends, and most importantly, his client as an individual rather than a canvas. While every look of his has a signature Law Roach feeling, they’re also incredibly tailored to the wearer, both in fit and design.
Hunter Schafer’s 2023 VF Oscar Party look is a perfect example of this, so let's break it down: while the white satin maxi skirt is classic and chic, as well as a silhouette favored by Roach, the innovative feathered top feeds into Hunter's edgier style, as well as the bandeau style that was all the rage at the time.
via Hearstapps
By underscoring all of his work with an essence of luxury, Law's looks don't feel out of reach– an impressive balance of style that makes his work applaudable by any audience.
The Background, and What’s Next
Law Roach and Zendaya's relationship started in 2011, and in true 2011 fashion, with Justin Beiber's Never Say Never premiere. The two met through a client of Law’s vintage boutique while Zendaya was shopping for the aforementioned premiere, and as Law told Fashionista in an interview, they have “been together ever since.” Over the years, the pair has gifted us many of the most iconic red carpet looks to date. Zendaya’s Joan of Arc chainmail dress worn to 2018’s MET Gala immediately comes to mind, along with Law’s red carpet debut as Zendaya’s fairy godfather at 2019’s MET.
Zendaya at The MET Gala (2018), via Getty
But Costume Institute aside, Zendaya and Roach are also well-known for their press tour looks, which have a long history of taking a theme to the next level. They started during her Spiderman days, with Zendaya donned in everything red, black, and literally covered in cobwebs (the Valentino kind, of course). The pair then continued this dive into film-inspired fashion during the Dune press tours. Each outfit along the tour felt futuristic, exciting, and perfectly fitting for Arrakis royalty.
Zendaya and Law Roach (left) at the CFDA Fashion Awards, via Vogue
And we can’t forget the recent Challengers tour. The use of embroidery, tennis dress-esque silhouettes and necklines, racket-resembling shapes, and the transitional tennis color palette have all come together for one of the most on-brand press tours to date. Roach, again, has taken the earned opportunity to boast his masterful use of shape, color, and texture to embody the essence of the film as a whole, while keeping each look cohesive with Zendaya's personal style.
via @therealtashiduncan on Instagram
Better yet, Law took things a step further and used his appreciation for both fashion and history to honor the legacies of Venus and Serena Williams, which he captioned after sharing on Instagram, "An ode to the GREATS..."
via @luxurylaw on Instagram
So you heard it here: Law has been on a roll with nearly every look being praised by both fashion experts and humble industry newcomers alike. And with this year’s MET Gala right around the corner, Zendaya holding a seat as a co-chair, the answer is no, we can’t wait for what’s coming next.
By Zeylia Jacobi