Photo: Michael Simon
We’re taught from a young age to pick one career path – essentially, one life we’re supposed to live. We’re told we have to be exceptional at that one thing and do it forever. But when we limit ourselves to a sole existence in this already limited lifetime, we miss the chance to grow into so much more. Law Roach knows this better than anyone.
The fashion mogul is ready to take what he learned during years of creating historic fashion moments and grow beyond styling. You may have seen that he famously retired recently, stepping away from the career he’d crafted for years. That’s why the “Image Architect” and celebrity stylist, whose clients include Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, and Ariana Grande, started his latest collaboration with his longtime favorite retail brand, TJ Maxx.
TJ Maxx set the scene for Roach’s first real introduction to the world of designer clothes, so having this full-circle moment at the precipice of his redirection feels cathartic. We catch up with Law to talk about all-things personal style, building a capsule closet, and separating yourself from your work.
What was it like working with the TJ Maxx team and getting to curate the presentation?
This whole collaboration came exactly when I needed it. And because I’ve been a Maxxinista for years, it makes sense to me. It felt authentic. TJ Maxx gave me my first opportunity to own luxury. We all had the desire to be a part of that club, owning luxury, and my earliest memories have been with TJ Maxx, so it’s been an honor.
I also always love opportunities where I get to work with other stylists. I kind of let them lead me more, which I haven’t had an opportunity to do.
What is one thing you’re excited for more people to know about TJ Maxx, specifically in terms of designer collections and pieces that they offer?
I think, for me, I’m a store shopper. I want to go to the store. I want to try it on. I want to touch it. I want to have interactions with the salespeople. I want to have interaction with other shoppers, and I think the way that they’ve created this world for the Runway is really easy. If you’re looking for certain brands, you know exactly where you’re going. It’s also just so accessible and easy, right? It’s like you’re going into one of those high-end department stores, but you are going to get the same exact thing that’s there at a price that doesn’t frustrate you or break the bank. I love the opportunity, knowing that I’m gonna go and I’m gonna find something that I’ve been fiend-ing for.
Photo: Michael Simon
A lot of times when young people think about how they want to dress and how they want to sell, I feel like styling really does make or break an outfit. It doesn’t matter what designer you’re wearing, it’s about how you style it. What’s your motto on building a look?
You gotta love it. If you go to a store and see something you like, try it on. If you love it, buy it. If you buy it, wear it. And if you wear it, wear it over again. Keep wearing it and keep giving it life. I think it really comes with being able to have the courage to try new things. There’ve been so many books written by experts saying you should never wear a specific item because of your skin tone or shape or age, and I’m like, let’s burn all those books and empower people to really just go in and take the power back and use clothes for what they’re meant to be used for. Clothes are meant to make you feel a certain type of way.
I love that the slogan for your collab is “Fashion’s best-kept secret.” What’s one of your best-kept fashion secrets for style?
I think Runway TJ Maxx. Yes. Not a secret anymore though, right?
Mostly, I think, it’s just take your time. Don’t rush into a trend because you saw it on social media or you saw your fave celebrity wearing it and you run out and buy stuff. Take your time, invest properly, get things that you know will last. It’s okay to get a trend every now and again. We all love a trend, right? But focus on things that you know you want to have forever.
What advice do you have for getting started and trying to build a capsule closet that in maybe 5 to 10 years you’ll look at and still want to have everything that’s there?
I think you buy the pieces that are necessary. You buy a great, beautiful black coat — I always suggest going for something mid-range, like, not too small but not too big. For a woman, you know, that one black dress that she can take from day to night. And a couple pairs of shoes. I think everybody needs a really great flat, some sort of pump, and a really great boot. Those are the key things that we should all have in our closet, right? Even climate shouldn’t make a difference — you should still have a beautiful coat.
Are there any colors you’re obsessed with and excited to see people wearing this spring and summer?
Bold colors, for sure. I think inherently bright, bold colors just make us feel some type of way. It triggers happiness or some type of endorphins. I love to see someone that’s dressed in really bright, bold colors when I’m driving in a car or I’m at the airport. I don’t know, it just does something.
Photo: Michael Simon
What has been the best advice you’ve received in the past couple of years?
The best advice I’ve ever received is, sometimes you have to be still. Give yourself the grace to actually be still for a second. The world begins to clear up and your outlook changes. But you have to give yourself that moment to just turn off all the noise. Whatever being still means to you, do it.
That was the best advice I’ve ever received because when you try to figure things out, when you get into your career or a relationship, you are so clouded with so much information, it can get hectic. When you’re still, things tend to come to you.
How do you go about finding a style that feels true to yourself?
I’ll give you an exercise right now that I created for people I mentor and some of my private clients. Everybody’s not going to have a stylist, right? Everybody doesn’t need a stylist. So, go to a retail store and use it as a self-care day. Plan to be there for hours. Go to every rack in the store, take out first the things that you love. Then take out things that you like, or that that you’re not sure about. Lastly, grab things that you think you hate, or that somebody somewhere down the line told you isn’t right for you. Try everything on. And then come to the conclusion and figure out if the things that you thought you love, you still love. The things that you like, do you still like them? The things that you thought you wouldn’t like…? It’s a really cool exercise. That will help you figure it out and really put you on the right path to create your own signature style.
Photo: Michael Simon
As you navigate this new chapter, just from what you’ve experienced in the last couple of weeks, what have you learned about yourself in regards to stepping away, evolving as a person and starting a new chapter?
Oh, that’s a great question! And you know what? To be 100% honest with you, I’m still figuring it out.
I am just so happy to have TJ Maxx want to work with me because, you know, I went through this thing recently where I’m like, “No one’s gonna care about me anymore since I’m not connected to all these huge stars.” What I’ve learned is, I feel people like me more, and I’m now more connected to the people I want to be connected to.
I was literally nervous just setting up this call. I was like, “Is this still happening? Are they still gonna want me?” Everyone, thus far, has truly embraced me. It made me feel important and cared about and respected. Hopefully, this collaboration goes on for years and years because it was exactly what I needed at the exact time that I needed it.
Lastly, is there anything non-fashion related that you’re interested in exploring? Even as simple as a hobby?
I’m actually writing a book, something I’ve been wanting to do for years, so that’s underway. You might see me pop up and do a little acting here and there. I want to try everything. I’m really into food, so I just keep saying to my team that I’m excited to try new things. If I’m not good at it, I can always just come back and be a stylist, because we know I’m good at that.
Originally published in Teenvogue.com
