“I think the folks in Los Angeles are great,” says Law Roach via phone in New York as part of his ongoing tour for his book, How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architect. “We have that juxtaposition between MICHELIN Star and hole in the wall restaurants.” That duality between haute and everyday is what separated Roach from the pack; his inherent ability to make the most spectacular ensembles appear as though they’ve been plucked from his client’s closets. And one notable client, Zendaya, has proven to be Roach’s muse, collaborator, and inspiration.
“The world has seen us grow up together,” adds Roach. “I met her when she was 13 going on 14. She’s my best friend, my little sister, sometimes my therapist, sometimes my worst enemy,” says Roach with his signature flair. However, the pair’s chemistry is flawless with Roach citing their closeness as the linchpin. But, how can everyone else achieve such stylistic highs?
“Find your power piece,” says Roach definitively. “In the book, I talk about that one piece of clothing that you know exactly how you how you look, you know exactly how it makes you feel.” It’s a message that resonates with Roach and his legions of followers and something he preaches and practices. To that end, Roach is on the hunt for his next ‘power piece’ for one of his A-list clients. “I would love to get my hands on something that either belonged to Diana Ross, Cher, or Princess Diana,” says Roach. Any specific pieces in mind? “Something that definitely they were photographed in and that when people see it, they automatically know who it belongs to.”
Below, discover Roach’s fabulous Los Angeles spots and make sure to check out more insights from our Inspectors, chefs, and celebrities.
What restaurant is your current favorite in Los Angeles?
I love restaurants that feel authentic to their origin and Hayato employs a bunch of different Japanese artisans to make it a really authentic experience.
What’s your favorite pizza place?
Mulberry Street Pizzeria. They actually fly the water in from New York so it makes me feel like I’m having pizza in New York.
What’s your favorite outdoor space?
Lamont Park.
What’s your favorite museum or cultural institution?
LACMA. I never had the chance to go and I was just invited to their Art + Film Gala and it was just great.
What’s your favorite shop?
There’s two — Recess Vintage and Aralda Vintage. The owners are really nice, the staff is really nice, and I always feel very welcome when I go there. At Recess, I bought a Castelbajac teddy bear coat from 1988 and from Arata I got the Alexander McQueen for Givenchy cyborg skirt set that Zendaya wore at the Seoul premiere of Dune 2.
Where do you go to de-stress?
We spa in Koreatown. We love a body scrub.
Address Book:
Mulberry Street Pizzeria
347 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Lamont Park
Segrue Rd, Lamont, CA 93241, USA, Lamont, CA 93241
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Recess Vintage
111 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Aralda Vintage
2691 Beachwood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Hero image: Easton Schirra / Law Roach
