Likely tucked away in her cavernous two-story closet in the suburbs of Dallas is Carla Rockmore, a 56-year-old style mentor with 1.3 million followers on TikTok alone. Her tips on fashion, authenticity and self-expression for the over-50 crowd have garnered millions of views, likely because she’s entertaining and makes you feel good — plus, she showcases her enormous shoe and clothing collection dating back decades. (Y’all, she still has her Gloria Vanderbilt jeans from … well, you know.)
People magazine’s recent list of “100 Reasons to Love America” placed Carla somewhere between stargazing at the Grand Canyon and the expansion of Buc-ee’s; the piece even called her the “real life Carrie Bradshaw”of Sex and the City fame. The great irony is that Carla is the last person to compare herself to anyone else. She’s all about being comfortable in her own skin. Get to know Carla here and at carlarockmore.com, where she hosts her fabulous clothing and jewelry lines.
What advice do you have for living out your own personal style at 50 and beyond?
I think it’s such an opportunity for us to explore ourselves and take chances on style based on what our gut is telling us rather than what other people are telling us to do, because we’ve been listening to them for the first 50 years. Isn’t it time we just listen to our own selves?
Like you, many of us have closets full of clothes from years past. How do we make what’s old new again?
I say accessories, alterations and a good pair of scissors. I think jewelry that picks up your color tone will really make an old blouse new again. If you’ve got a pair of pants that you love but you bought them 15 years ago, and they’re floods, why not consider making them a crop, because crops are cute.
As ′70s fashion makes a strong comeback this fall, how do we wear it well?
We all love denim and pants, so the high-waisted, wider-leg, bell-bottom kind of pant is a really elongating style and quite flattering for most people. I would say if you’re petite, consider a platform or some sort of stable, sturdy [but] a little sexy shoe to pop out under that. Why not? An espadrille is a great statement shoe to hide under those pants, and it’ll give you some height. I would love a high-waist pant to be in rotation … . Another would be a peasant dress with some fun print in it that has earth tones like a brown, burnt orange, saffron yellow — these will always reference the ′70s.
If you miraculously had a completely free and clear Saturday to shop Dallas fashion, what would that look like?
I would probably start at the vintage shops Vintage Martini, Dolly Python — those stores and some really good ones like AAVintedge. From there I would move to Forty Five Ten because of the eclecticism of their merchandise. You can’t compare it — amazing. I would then get hungry. So I would have to drive over to Highland Park and have a little something at Bistro 31 and pop into The Conservatory. They have elegant, timeless lifestyle pieces. And if I had the time, and I didn’t feel like I needed a nap, I would try to squeeze in Canary because it’s a fantastic spot.
Any Dallasites whose style you admire?
I rarely look to others for tips and tricks. I cannot think of another city I’ve lived in — and I’ve lived in a few — where people not only are really happy to see other people dressed well, and cute and full of color, but they also say so! In certain Northeast cities, you might be wearing a cute skirt and you’ll get ignored, no “Oh, you look good today!” Whereas here, it’s like all day long you can get other people excited by what you’re wearing, and you can feel good complimenting them. It’s just a warm place to be. And that’s how I see the fashion here.
Carla’s 6 fall must-haves
1. Double-breasted belted vest from Zara, $70
“This vest is a great structured layering piece. Style it alone or with a long-sleeved turtleneck and you’re ready to hit the town.”
2. Denim bomber jacket from Zara, $90
“This bomber is great for fall because it isn’t too heavy but will still keep you warm. Style it with jeans for a matchy moment.”
3. Velvet ballet flats from Zara, $50
“In honor of the ballet-flat trend, these shoes are fabulous. I love the pastel shades and they’re velvet. It makes them even more delicate-looking.”
4. Indigo denim skirt from Madewell, $98
“If you know me, you know I can’t go without a denim maxi skirt. I like that this one from Madewell has a baggier fit, allowing for movement. Style with a boot or flat!”
5. Checked jacquard-knit top, $120, and pants, $135, from Cos
“I love this set because the pieces work great on their own, or you can wear them together to create a fun statement. The pattern is urban yet chic.”
6. Wally ankle boots from Staud, $395
“These boots are great for fall because they can be styled with almost any outfit and the heel isn’t too tall. When it comes to shoes, for me, comfort is everything.”
