WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Hello friends,

It’s winter, the season of reflection, hibernation, and of course, fabulous statement coats. And this year, it marks the beginning of something new for me: a return to writing.

First a little bit of clarification. Let me reiterate, I’m not going anywhere. My last email and post stirred up some confusion (and concern, which I find deeply flattering). I’m not going anywhere!

Yes, I am closing my eponymous collection on CarlaRockmore.com. But I am absolutely still creating, whether it be social content, designing new lines for QVC and now writing to you here more regularly. CarlaRockmore.com is now a home for updates and announcements. And if you’re not already following me on social media, that’s where you can continue to see what I’m up to in real time.

But enough housekeeping. Let’s talk about what this space will be.

I want it to be where I share what’s on my mind, yes… but also where I pass along the hard-earned fashion knowledge that comes from decades of designing, styling, and frankly, getting dressed for real life. There will be tips. There will be deeper dives. There will be inspiration, including what’s fueling me creatively, what I’m reading, what I’m loving, and what I genuinely cannot live without.

And because the women in my life are far too interesting to keep quiet, my wildly talented daughter, Ivy, will guest write once a month.

And (please send prayers) once I get my brilliant (and 84-year-old) mother properly set up, we’ll be having conversations with the original influencer herself, Charlotte.

Style, substance, family, and a little irreverence. That’s what you can expect. I’m so glad you’re here.

My love of fashion started in my mother’s closet when I was seven years old. I was watching her get dressed to go out on a date. There she stood wearing a cream fitted suit like Bianca Jagger. She had just ironed her long straight black hair and she was reaching for her 6-inch gold platform sandals. My mom, who only a few hours earlier had picked me up from school holding my bag of crackers, while wearing a long floral maxi and Birkenstocks, was now transformed into a Femme Fatal. I was hooked!

I went to school for fashion, and I designed clothes for 25 years. After having my kids, I parlayed that into jewelry design. I’m constantly scrolling because I’m constantly shopping. I watch the shows and I read about fashion. I have manufactured, sold, and taught fashion seminars. Fashion and style have always come naturally to me.

My style is eclectic. I love the yin and yang of a look. If I’m wearing a very feminine dress, I’ll purposely throw on a utility boot. I love color with color and black with white. Man or woman, you need to go with your gut and what feels right to you.

I haven’t always known what I wanted my style to be like. I don’t like to box myself into certain styles because then it restricts me. Some days I feel like dressing very minimally, other days I’m a full-on maximalist. Something in the mix must excite me to get the ball rolling.

I dress according to my mood. I recognize the power of getting dressed and how it makes you feel. I have always been a workaholic, and after moving to the United States from Canada, it took me a long while to find my groove. There is no garment industry in Texas. I felt sad, lost, and depleted until I picked myself up and travelled to India to start a fine jewelry line.

However, during the pandemic-era lockdown, I needed to find a new creative outlet. Getting dressed up, sprinkling in humor, using my fashion knowledge and my cultivated closet seemed to be a match made in heaven for both my friends (whom I initially started doing videos for) as well as a place of refuge for myself. It was all very serendipitous.

What I have learned is that personal style is not fashion and that they are not interchangeable. If you are questioning your own style, develop it by making mistakes, and then put it out there for others to enjoy (or not lol). People enjoy creativity and can sense authenticity. It’s important to be you. Experiment and have fun. I have always liked the idea of peppering in vintage items. If you infuse pieces that are truly original, you will start to curate your own sense of style.

I think a big life lesson is to do what you do well. Cultivate it. Don’t force yourself to do something that doesn’t come naturally.

I know, I know…they say silver or gold (and god forbid never rose gold), but if you know me, you know I’m all about knowing the rules and then breaking them. Nowadays, the Gen Zers are stacking silver and gold but I hate to break it to them, this has a long history. From the 1920’s we see it in Joan Crawford’s engagement ring, a stunning Art Deco piece that mixed metals. Then came the jewelry designer Eugene Joseff whose firm was noted for creating costume jewelry for some of the biggest films of the 1930s and 1940s, where he pioneered the “matte-metal” look often using combinations of Russian gold, platinum-plated silver, and bronze, designed to prevent glare under studio lights. Icons like Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo wore these pieces on and off-screen, making the blend of warm and cool tones a signature of 1940s glamour.

Who can forget the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson who was known for her bold and unconventional jewelry (side note, this is a delicious scandal all its own about a love story and divorce and an American in the British royal family!). Her patronage of American jewelry designer Seaman Schepps, who mixed metals with unconventional materials like seashells, was the epitome of 1940s retro glamour. The 1960s and 1970s brought boho chic, artisans, and disco shine to the forefront with a fantastic mix of styles, metals and materials. And what about the 1980s where Rolex launched the two-tone watch craze? Although Hailey Bieber may be known for her mixing of delicate chains in an array of metal finishes, she’s certainly not the first.

All this to say, dive in! If you want a quick lesson in mixing metals, check out this video, one of my more popular “give you permission to be you” videos (wait, that’s all of them…!) And if you are wondering about all my historic references, I have created this little board…so delicious.

Creative inspiration can come from anywhere. I love a good movie, art exhibit or even a trip to a new town to give me a creative boost and to inspire my next look. Right now in the doldrums of winter, I’m reviewing the memory tapes from my family trip to Rome over the holidays as I think about some new outfits. Think Fellini, Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vida with her stunning figure shaping strapless silhouette, the chaos of Rome with fashion on every corner, or even the colors of the gelato flavors (of which I sampled many) are inspiring my spring palette - a mix of pastels and pops.

I’m currently obsessed with watching The Voice (but I only watch the auditions), eating smoked oysters (can’t believe I forgot you), reading anything Rizzoli publishes on fashion, and listening to Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

As the ultimate high-low shopper, I have a lot of carts going at the same time. Right now, I have my eye on Alaia Lucite ball earrings or as much Robert Lee Morris I can get my hands on. I am restocking on my must have supplements (Grüns anyone? My friend shared some with me and I’m obsessed), and this eye liner that is the everyday water line liner that you need.

From fashion SOS moments to everyday dilemmas, ask me anything right here.

ASK ME ANYTHING

XO

CARLA