Image Architect Law Roach launched his styling career in 2009 - roughly the same time T.J.Maxx introduced The Runway, a collection of premium designer offerings brought down to a more accessible price point for customers at select stores. Now, 15 years later, and with the recent announcement of his retirement from styling, Roach has the time to focus on a partnership he's been manifesting since he was shopping at T.J.Maxx in college.
"Confidence is the most beautiful thing that anybody can put on."
"I bought a designer sweater at a New York location with my best friend, and we were just so proud. We thought we were so cool and we looked so fly. I will never forget that, because what T.J.Maxx did was give me the opportunity to have a little bit of fashion as a college student who couldn't break the bank," Roach told POPSUGAR via Zoom, a few hours before he unveiled the luxury spring offerings he curated for The Runway. The 15 looks debuted at an intimate dinner in front of journalists, friends, and other industry supporters.
The gathering felt "intimate" not because of the number of guests (there were several people in attendance) but because of Roach's approach to the evening. Rather than putting himself on a pedestal, he mingled and took photos with everyone he walked past, kicking off the presentation with a raw, emotional speech that put his career change and gratitude at the forefront of the conversation.
His openness and humility are impressive, given his status in the fashion industry. Roach has styled some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Priyanka Chopra, Céline Dion, Anne Hathaway, and Anya Taylor-Joy. He's also widely regarded as a style icon, which is why his new projects may seem unfamiliar, or surprising, at first. But as always, Roach continues to put his passions first, with the mentality that it's OK to explore new opportunities - just as he did when he walked the Boss spring 2023 runway in Miami the day after his retirement. "I just really want to do more things to see if I'm actually good at them. If I'm not, I'm not afraid to fail," he said. So far, he has nothing to worry about.
Ahead, read about Roach's collaboration with T.J.Maxx, his personal style evolution, and his "spiritual rebirth" on the Boss runway, which he opens up about for the first time here.