Image Architect

You would think people in the arts do not need an Image Architect. Well, you'd be wrong. Especially if you have taken time to read Bob's comments on the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to Oscar/ red carpets for example. Some of the choices leave you scratching your head. For the longest time, I thought Hollywood people did what we do: when they have an invitation that seems to be formal-ish, you go to a store, try on some stuff, get what fits better or you like most and ... go?

Nope. I would be wrong. There's Image Architects behind every stitch of clothing your fav musicians, actors and artists wear to the too many to count events that they go to. And that's what @luxurylaw does (some of you may know Law Roach from Legendary, hunny). And he does it VERY well. So when I heard through twitter the grapevine that he was quitting being an Image Architect, my ears perked. Why? Why would you quit such a cool (and profitable) job? There's really not many Black stylists in Hollywood and Law was one of the best. He was just coming from dressing tons of celebrities for the Vanity Fair Oscar party and had won the CFDC award for Best Stylist. So what gives?

Burnout, says Law:

And I think that’s just in our DNA as African Americans, and I’ve been suffering for years, and I woke up, and when I made that post — and shit, it’s like it’s been so long ago, but it was literally the day before yesterday? Monday? I made that post because I felt like I couldn’t breathe and me releasing that and letting the world know that I’m done with this was the first time that whole week that I really felt like I took a breath, a deep breath.

I don’t wanna suffer no more. I don’t wanna be unhappy. I don’t wanna be at the beck and call of people and their teams. I wanna take some time and figure out, you know, how to live.

@TheCut

And I kind of agree? Why put so much effort into something that does not make us happy and it's grinding us to the core? Why allow our jobs to literally fry our brains? I know. Survival. But at what price? Many of us are privileged enough to have a job. Many of us have pivoted a few times until we've landed the job we currently have and we've stayed put. I am relatively happy in my job, to tell you the truth. Do I love it? At times. Do I like all the people I work with? Not really. But the pay is good enough to get me to shut up, so I'll stay. Also, there's a Union and they protect me from myself. It's also what some would call a 'Woke' adjacent kind of job and I like that. Hey, I always look for a silver lining. Otherwise, it would get too bleak.

I do not have Roach's talent or mobility, so off to my office I go. Enough jobs were eliminated or transformed during the pandemic, so I'll stick to the one I have. But if I could leave? I think I would. Maybe not right now, because I'm at a stage in my career where I have not reached total burnout, but later? In a heartbeat. The only problem I see is that I would leave to do... something similar. Because thank goodness, I kind of like what I do and it's also kind of the only thing I'm relatively good at doing. But it would be nice to have the choice to leave when I feel I need to leave...

So good luck, Law. I know you'll be able to engineer one and a thousand more fantastic looks for those top-tier people who apparently cannot dress themselves. Even though when you manage to make them look amazing, they (or their gatekeepers) always find something nasty to say about the results. And you'll be ready to let them have it. 

More power to you.

XOXO

P.S. I also love that Law says the he may be Ace? Did I hear that right???