Zendaya’s Stylist Law Roach Announces Shock Retirement Amid 'Politics, Lies And False Narratives'

If you, like us, have spent the past few years obsessing over every single look that Zendaya has worn on the red carpet, then chances are you're already well-acquainted with the genius behind them all: the legendary Law Roach.

The 44-year-old Hollywood super-stylist is one of the most recognisable names in the fashion industry, known for dressing everyone from Hunter Schafer and Anya-Taylor Joy to Ariana Grande and Celine Dion – and responsible for an astounding 10 looks at the 2021 Met Gala.

So it's no exaggeration to say that it came as a serious shock when Roach announced his retirement yesterday. Fresh from styling Megan Thee Stallion and Hunter Schafer in that internet-breaking Ann Demeulemeester two-piece for the Oscars after party, Roach shared the shocking news via Instagram with a post explaining his decision.

The stylist wrote: 'My Cup is empty….. thank you to everyone who’ve supported me and my career over the years. Every person that trusted me with their image, I’m so grateful for you all. If this business was just about the clothes I would do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately it’s not! The politics , the lies and false narratives finally got me! You win … I’m out. ❤️❤️❤️'

Designers, models and fellow fashion luminaries were quick to express their surprise and dismay at the stylist's news. Naomi Campbell commented, 'Law I won’t let you !!!! We don’t quit .. strived to hard [sic]', while Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli simply wrote 'No way.'

Naturally, Roach's comment about 'the politics, the lies and false narratives' has sparked rumours about what may have happened behind the scenes to prompt such a seemingly 'out-of-the-blue' decision. Some have pointed to the fact the stylist was asked to sit on the second row at a recent Louis Vuitton show, while others have referenced Zendaya's new contract with the Parisian brand.

Roach has also previously spoken about experiencing racism in the industry, and some have pointed to the strain the fashion industry can put on mental health. Author, fellow stylist and ELLE UK contributing editor Aja Barber commented on a Diet Prada post about the news: 'I feel like things must have felt really bad for this to happen. As a Black person in the industry myself I feel burnt out, often overlooked and feeling like the June 2020 stuff was an indicator that nothing was going to actually change. The politics of all of this is exhausting.'

In a recently resurfaced interview, the stylist can also be heard discussing the politics of the fashion industry, saying: 'You can’t talk to me any kind of way and you can’t treat me any kind of way. I’m commanding a certain kind of respect and if you’re not giving me that, we’re going to have a problem. I’m not afraid of this industry because I’m Black, I’m from the hood, I can always go back. I can always make money, I can always be successful.'

Whether Roach plans to elaborate on the reasons behind his decisions remains to be seen. In the meantime, here are some of stylist's best Zendaya looks from over the years:

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