Law Roach Opens Up About His Retirement From Celebrity Styling, His Future Plans, and His Dramatic Modeling Debut for Boss

A few hours before Boss’ show by the water – and soaked in water! – That night in downtown Miami, Law Roach was backstage working. What he didn’t do, however, was his usual job — the job that has made him one of the most visible and celebrated creatives in fashion — as a celebrity and editorial stylist. Instead, he was in town to walk as a model for the first time.

It’s currently been around 36 hours since Roach published an Instagram post announcing his retirement and citing “politics and false narratives.” The news caused widespread consternation across the industry and also sparked a series of unfounded suggestions and questions as to what might have prompted his decision: Was it because he was sitting in the second row at a fashion show? Did he have a fight with one of the clients for whom his work was so positively transformative? Has he left the industry entirely? WTF? Rather than speculate, Vogue asked Roach to speak out about his decision himself.

Congratulations on your new career – you’re about to make your runway debut!

“Yes! I’m excited and nervous. And deeply grateful. I’m grateful that the Boss team sees me as more than just dressing all these amazing celebrities.”

Today you will be styled, not the other way around. This has to be interesting, because instead of telling the story, you’re part of that story that someone else is telling…

“I release the power and control. which is ok Because I’ve done it so many times, I get it. You know I’m going to use Naomi [Campbell], who is also here tonight, as an example. When I’ve worked with her, it’s always been, “What should I wear?” She doesn’t come into the room and say, “I’m going to wear this, this, this.” It’s the pro in her. She’s always like, what should I wear? What should I do? I took that from people like Naomi and other legends and icons I work with – that you trust the professional and let them do their job. And that’s how I got into it [Boss show] with: whatever you want, whatever you want me to wear – I have no opinion on it at all.”

It must feel liberating to relax that creative muscle you’ve been flexing for 20 years…

“20 years? I’m not that old! My age is all over the internet so nobody really knows! But I’ve been counting my work in this industry since I moved to LA. And I moved to LA in 2014 – that’s when my career started .”

Please accept my apologies for the awful math! So that’s almost a decade. You used the word “retirement” in your Instagram post, but what we’re seeing tonight feels more like a transition?

“I’m not saying I’m retiring from fashion. i love fashion I love business and I love being creative. What I’m withdrawing from is the celebrity styling part of it: being in service and in the service of other people. That’s what I’m retiring from, yes.”

You were pretty puzzling in your post as to what created a vacuum that a lot of love has since poured into…

“Yes, the amount of love was overwhelming. Because I, too, work and live in a bubble where my clients are my priority over my own health and happiness. And in my mind, you know, I did [making his statement of retirement] just to relieve some pressure on myself, right? I drove in the car and made a decision. I said, ‘You know what, I’ve done everything I wanted to do in this career. I’ve gotten all the awards, the awards, I’ve changed people’s lives… And I just feel like I’ve had enough, you know? So this Instagram post wasn’t a PR stunt. It was really me who gave me the grace to say, It’s okay. You can do something else.”

So a form of self-care?

“Yeah. And that kind of became this other thing that I wasn’t quite ready for. I’ve been getting a barrage of support, texts and DMs that I haven’t come back to yet because it’s just overwhelming. Even fans say , that they enjoy seeing my work and people I’ve worked with said, “No, you can’t go because we love working with you.” And all those things… It is beautiful and it made me look forward to today even more and working with Boss and they gave me the opportunity to be shown in a different light you know?

Photo: Courtesy of Luke Leitch

Law Roach recorded by Luke Leitch backstage at the Boss show.

As a stylist, you have this special ability to match clients with clothing in a context or combination that creates a catalyst for storytelling…

“At my core, and I say this all the time, I’m a storyteller. And I’m just using the clothes for words, right? When I’m collaborating with someone and when I’m doing an editorial, there has to be some kind of narrative: I have to know what I’m trying to say, and I just use the clothes to do that. At the end of the day, I’m nothing more than a storyteller.”

Thinking about how to apply this skill in another corner of fashion? It’s great to hear you’re not leaving the industry. And of course, you shouldn’t put work or clients ahead of your own well-being…

“If you’ve never experienced being a kid and going to bed hungry, you’ll never understand why I work the way I work. I still wake up every morning with this heartbreaking feeling that this can be over and I can go back to where I came from. And where I come from was nothing, you know? So that’s why I thought I was okay with putting myself on the back burner for everyone else. Because I feel like I have to work harder and be better than everyone else. And because I was that little boy who went to bed crying because there just wasn’t enough food to fill me up. So this is the bag I work in, you know? And everyone says, “Well, you don’t have to think like that.” But if you’ve ever had that feeling, it never goes away.”

This is a deep existential fear. So what you’re saying is that fear motivated you to become a workaholic to prevent it from potentially manifesting, and then that strategy itself created a negative consequence?

“Yes. And when I made that decision yesterday, I stepped back and looked at my life and realized I have nothing but this career. I don’t want this to be the legacy… To answer your question about what I’m up to, are different things. Like what I’m doing with Boss today. I also plan to teach: I want to get more involved with people who look like me and find out how they have the opportunity to do things that I’ve done , right?…I want this to be my legacy, a legacy that I’ve really helped transform people’s lives — and not just celebs’ lives, by dressing them in the best dress, you know ?

And there is your television work. Also, we’re colleagues – you’re the West Coast Editor of British Fashion. So maybe we’ll see more of your work there?

“I’m trying to figure this all out, you know? That just happened yesterday. I’m soul searching and talking to people I trust like Edward [Enninful], and I just have to find out. But I’m so excited to be able to release today. The Boss team was really supportive: sensitive and friendly. I really appreciate that and it drives me to do the best job I can on the runway.”

So how do you face the challenge of walking the catwalk?

“I don’t think I have any challenges. I’m a fucking diva! Even if they put me on a 10 inch heel, I would walk this catwalk. The little gay boy in me – I’m living a dream! The hair, the makeup, the look they chose for me: it’s literally a dream!”

Immediately following what would turn out to be an absolutely insane show, Law shared the runway with models including Pamela Anderson, DJ Khaled, Naomi Campbell, Khaby Lame and Precious Lee, all of whom were completely soaked by the murderous combination of fountain and backdrop, and strong Winch – we caught up with him backstage. So how did it go? Roach said: “To be walking into a production this big for the first time was amazing. I have so much more respect for the models: being able to walk in those elements, in those puddles… In my mind I said, “Think of Naomi. Think of Naomi. Think of Naomi!” And I think the spirit of Naomi and her being here really caught on. So it was okay! The water was aggressive, but I thought it was beautiful.” If you can walk the show that Boss challenged his models to tonight, there aren’t many catwalks you can’t master: the next chapter of Law Roach has begun .

Video: Courtesy of Luke Leitch

Law Roach will make his runway debut at Boss’ Spring 2023 ready-to-wear show.