Zendaya’s Stylist Calls Out Designers Who Refused to Dress Her Back in the Day: ‘I Still Have All the Receipts'

Law Roach named "the big five" who previously said his client was "too green" to wear their designs

 Zendaya and Law Roach attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City.
Zendaya and Law Roach, 2024 Met Gala. Photo:

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Zendaya and fashion may have become synonymous throughout the years, but according to her stylist, she hasn’t always been the go-to-girl for big brands looking to showcase their designs. 

In an interview with The Cutting Room Floor shared on Patreon Thursday, May 9, the actress’ long-time collaborator, Law Roach, said it was a challenge to get certain luxury fashion houses to work with the Challengers star, 27. 

“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, 45, said during the interview. 

Zendaya attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" on May 06, 2024 in New York City.
Zendaya, 2024 Met Gala.

Bauzen/GC Images

The episode was filmed on April 22 — two weeks before the Dune star 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. 

The host seemed surprised by his confession, so Roach explained a bit further. 

Zendaya attends the UK Premiere of "Challengers" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on April 10, 2024 in London, England.; Zendaya attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California.; Zendaya attends the World Premiere of "Dune: Part Two" in Leicester Square on February 15, 2024 in London, England.
Zendaya.

Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/WireImage; John Shearer/WireImage; Mike Marsland/WireImage

“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.” 

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Valentino : Front Row - Paris Fashion Week - Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023
Law Roach and Zendaya, Paris Fashion Week. Dominique Charriau/WireImage

Earlier in the interview, Roach was asked about his confidence and he credited Zendaya for helping him find his voice early in his own career. 

“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.”

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