'Definitely missed out': Zendaya's stylist hailed for calling out past snubs by 'big five' fashion houses
LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA: Zendaya's journey to becoming a fashion icon hasn't been without its challenges, according to her longtime stylist Law Roach.
In a recent interview with The Cutting Room Floor, Roach revealed the difficulties they faced in getting "the big five" fashion houses to collaborate with the actress.
Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach calls out designers who refused to dress her
Despite Zendaya's rising star status, Roach shared that prominent brands like Saint Laurent, Chanel, Gucci, Valentino, and Dior initially rejected the idea of dressing her.
“I would write the big five. I would write Saint Laurent, Chanel, Gucci, Valentino, Dior, and they would all say, ‘No, try again next year. She’s too green,'" Roach disclosed during the interview.
The episode was filmed on April 22, two weeks before Zendaya walked the red carpet at the 2024 Met Gala, where she also served as a co-chair for the event.
For the 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion' theme, Zendaya wore a gown by Maison Margiela's John Galliano.
According to Roach, he kept "all the receipts" from the "big five" who had previously turned his client down.
“By the time she had got to American Vogue, she still had never wore any of those designers — she still hasn’t,” he said.
Roach explained a bit further after the host seemed surprised by his confession.
“In an editorial, yes. But on a red carpet, she still has never worn Dior on a carpet. She still has never worn Chanel on a carpet. She has still never worn Gucci on a carpet. Any press, any appearance, never,” Roach said.
“The first time she wore Valentino in public is when she had a contract,” he added of Zendaya. He continued, “So when I said, ‘If you say no, it’ll be a no forever,’ that rang true for a long, long time.”
Roach also revealed in the interview that Zendaya helped him find his voice early in his career by giving him confidence.
“She was always the one advocating for me and making sure I was in these rooms that people thought I didn’t belong in. Even as a young girl, I’m talking about 16, 17 years old,” he said.
“We’ve sat in boardrooms with clients and companies and CEOs and they would try to make me invisible and she would say, ‘Law has something to say,’ or someone (would) try to talk around me and she’s like, ‘Oh, well he just asked you a question,’ and it was like those small, little things that always when someone would try to take the power, she would hand it right back to me.”
Social media reacts to Zendaya's stylist exposing fashion designers' rejections
Roach's candid remarks about designers refusing to dress Zendaya have sparked a flurry of reactions across social media platforms, with fans expressing both support and disbelief. Here's a glimpse into the online discourse:
One user enthusiastically declared, "He protected her and IM HERE FOR IT," applauding Roach's role in advocating for Zendaya's visibility and success in the fashion industry.
Another fan echoed the sentiment, stating, "Getting Law Roach is so iconic. Got me for life followed!"
Several users took the opportunity to praise Zendaya with one commenting, "Yeah they definitely missed out!!!! Zendaya is Gorgeous!!!!!"
One user noted, "When she got a CONTRACT. they really said, it’ll cost y’all!"
Some users expressed surprise and disbelief at the fashion houses' decisions, with one exclaiming, "Imagine being a fashion house and fumbling ZENDAYA!?! Gaaag".
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