Sure, we can’t all be Zendaya, slaying red carpets left and right, but thanks to a new book from her stylist Law Roach, we’ll now have the tips to at least try.
Roach’s new book, How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World s Only Image Architect, shares the secrets behind his distinctive approach to red carpet dressing. With an A-list clientele that includes Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Céline Dion, Megan Thee Stallion, and countless others, Roach, through his book, offers a behind-the-scenes look at how he’s cultivated wardrobes fit for fashion icons. “You’ve been loyal and stood beside me through this long and winding journey,” Roach writes of Zendaya. “Hopefully you don’t mind if I let the world into a few of our secrets in the next few pages.”
Vogue read How to Build a Fashion Icon ahead of its release, and curated 8 key style tips worth taking away. Follow them, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll start dressing like an A-lister, too.
The key is confidence
Roach’s number-one rule for looking flawless on a red carpet is all about exuding power and confidence—making sure you’re wearing the clothes; the clothes shouldn’t wear you. “There is a reason that people fell in love with clips of Megan Thee Stallion in a vintage 1997 Paco Rabanne two-piece look,” Roach writes. “What people were really applauding was that they could sense she felt like she was ‘that girl.’”
Roach adds that confidence is a muscle that can be trained; you can hone it with practice. “People will tell you that self-confidence is a sort of innate or natural thing, but that’s not always true. . . Building confidence is a gradual process that involves self-awareness, practice, and self-acceptance.” In other words: A killer fashion moment begins from the inside, before you even put anything on.
Cultivate your identity
Roach suggests thinking of clothes as a way to convey your identity. “Think of your style as your visual personality. It’s the way you show up in the world,” he writes. “Before you start thinking of any of the clothes that you think will make you a fashion icon, it’s important to understand that the clothing is just a form of communication. You’re talking to the world without opening your mouth.”
He adds that pieces in your closet should reflect your inner passions, values, and goals; If you’re gunning for that important job promotion, for example, lean in on sleek and professional garments—you fashion should visualize where you wish to head. “Style is a way of presenting yourself to the world, and it can help you to remind yourself of a few things,” he says.
Embrace storytelling
A killer red carpet look, Roach shares, is one that always tells a bigger story. “I don’t just create looks. I create moments,” he writes. “At the end of the day, I am a storyteller. When I work with anyone—whether it’s for editorial, for an event, or for a red carpet—there has to be some type of narrative. I have to know what I’m trying to say before I approach the wardrobe. I just use the clothes to express that.”
Dress according to emotions—not trends
While many stylists will look to the biggest seasonal trends or designers for inspiration, Roach says he prefers a more emotional response to putting together looks. He adds that it’s an important tip for anyone to remember, as it will help find more unique end results. “When I’m in a fitting with a client, it’s often not about which dress is prettiest, or which pair of pants provides the perfect fit,” he writes. “It’s about which pieces give them some type of emotion. I look for that take-your-breath-away moment—and it doesn’t always come from the clothes you’d expect.”
Give clothes a well-enjoyed life
While you may think being a fashion icon like Zendaya would entail never wearing the same look twice, Roach encourages the opposite. “Being a fashion icon means being unafraid to give your clothes life,” he writes. “If you find something you love, you shouldn’t wear it just once. . . There’s such power that comes from owning a piece of clothing and knowing how it’s going to fit your body and knowing how you’re going to feel when you put it on.”
Review the archives
Even if you want to buy new wardrobe pieces, Roach suggests revisiting the items in your wardrobe to help ignite future fashion ideas. “Try on everything you own—yes, I truly mean everything,” he writes. Trying on old pieces, and asking yourself critical questions, can help guide you towards the looks or items you should be investing in now. “How do you respond to each piece? Do you remember why you bought it now? How does it make you feel? Why haven’t you been wearing it? Should you change that?”
Combine staple pieces and power pieces
Roach says there is a specific styling combination he gravitates towards with clients: Combining staple pieces with power pieces. Staple pieces, he says, are the invaluable basics that you can always mix-and-match. “When you have so much going on in your life and there’s all of this outside noise, it can be endlessly beneficial to have a go-to piece you know you never have to second guess or reconsider,” he says. “If you can, buy a few of them so they are always at the ready (especially if it’s versatile). You’ll thank yourself later.”
Power pieces, meanwhile, are those bolder and more statement-inducing items that inject your outfit with wow factor. “Your power piece is something that sparks big emotions in you,” he writes. “For me, when I’m in something long that touches the floor, I feel empowered. There’s something elegant and regal about the length that makes me stand taller. Even my walk changes.” Combine the staple items with the power ones, and you’ve got a winning ensemble.
Enter a renaissance era
Roach’s final tip for becoming a fashion icon? Let go of fears, and don’t be afraid of reinventing yourself—even if that means switching up your style entirely. He equates evolving your style to personal growth—it’s necessary. “Growth is the way forward. Life is about continually progressing and evolving, refining your way to become the best you,” he writes. “Life is about reflection and reinvention. Don’t stagnate. Don’t lose that spark. Continue to evolve and push yourself.”
