Tyla and Law Roach are here to teach the kids their fashion history | Dazed
When Nickelodeon announced that Tyla would be hosting this year’s Kids’ Choice Awards, the decision was met with some confusion. Don’t they know what all her songs are about?! cried hysterical corners of the internet, aghast at the idea that grade school children might listen to “Water”. But if there was any confusion about the South African superstar’s place at the ceremony, that was quelled during the awards this weekend as her role became clear: she was there to teach the kids their fashion history.
During the show, the singer raced through a number of different outfit changes, but there was one particular look that stood out: a sunset gradient satin minidress, with layered ruffles and a glittering, appliqué bow. Styled by none other than image architect Law Roach, the yellow and orange frock had been loaned straight from the Roberto Cavalli archive, first debuted on its SS06 catwalk. Unlike the catwalk, though, Roach completed the look with a jauntily placed captain’s hat in a complementary shade of burnt orange, designed by the Ukrainian accessories maker Ruslan Baginskiy.
We can always count on Law Roach to teach the kids what’s really important in life – and that’s fashion. The fact that most of them probably weren’t even alive when the dress first appeared on the runway is even more reason for them to witness it now, in all its gaudy, Italian glory. But if you had any worries that the gown was a victim of Nickelodeon’s infamous slime cannons, then fear not – it was another one of Tyla’s clearly less important outfits that got slathered. Archival Cavalli blasted by green slime? Law Roach would never.
Elsewhere at the awards show, the singer wore a cobalt polo dress from Berlin label Sia Arnika with the slogan ‘THE PEOPLE WANT MORE’ across its front, plus some classic Tyla looks, like camo cargos and a distressed tank top, plus some denim micro shorts of which she’s clearly a fan. This award ceremony also isn’t the first time the singer has worked with Roach – most recently, he styled her for the 2025 Met Gala, in burnt orange Tolu Coker for the night before the event, and pinstriped Jacquemus for the actual red carpet.
Scroll through the gallery below for Tyla’s best red carpet moments, and revisit her summer 2024 cover shoot above.
Getty
Tyla’s F/W 2000 Cavalli gown is made from blue satin chiffon, its hem embellished with fox fur petals. The look is an ode to R&B legend Aaliyah’s VMA dress from 2000, though Tyla isn’t the first to pay tribute – Kim Kardashian and Paloma Elsesser have also worn versions in the past.
Getty
Last month, Tyla dipped into the Gucci archives for the ‘Oscars of the fashion’, the CFDA awards in New York City. The lace mini-dress and green hot-pant combo is pulled from Gucci’s S/S 1996 collection, during Tom Ford’s golden years as creative director of the Italian house.
Getty
Fresh off the catwalk, stylist Lee Trigg pulled an Area SS25 look for Tyla’s MTV VMA appearance in September this year. The cheeky, vibrant green underwear was a last-minute addition to the look from NYC brand Reeno.
Getty
Both Tyla and Ice Spice opted for 2004 archive Versace at the BET awards in June. Styled by Katie Qian, the black halter-neck discretely revealed yet another animal print moment for the star, flashing from the lining as she walked as a nod to her fans, ‘Tigers’.
Getty
One of the most talked about looks of the 2024 Met Gala was Tyla’s statuesque Balmain dress. For her inaugural Met, creative director Olivier Rousteing concocted a gown made from three types of sand, mixed with micro crystal studs. Not only did the star have to be physically lifted up the Met steps, but Rousteing even took a pair of scissors to it, transforming it into a mini dress so that Tyla could move more freely later in the night.
Getty
Tyla made history again at this year’s Grammys, taking home the first ever award for Best African Music Performance for her song, Water. She won whilst wearing custom Versace, as did Best New Artist winner Victoria Monet.
Getty
She may have gone as Halle Berry in The Flintstones for Halloween this year, but it wasn’t the first time that Tyla has opted for Stone Age couture. At Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala earlier this year, in the run-up to the main event, Tyla wore New York brand Area once again.
Getty
It’s almost been a whole year but we still haven’t forgotten Tyla’s wet look from 2023’s GQ Men of the Year Awards. A reference to her own song (the viral hit responsible for her almost instant global fame) Tyla and Katie Qian looked to London-based Greek designer Di Petsa for the perfect ‘water’ dress.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/charlize-09d9117f976345ddbe907b1e1f5d0a1b.jpg)