In an exclusive interview with MEGA, Carla Rockmore shared her journey as a content creator, fashion designer, and advocate of self-expression through fashion
A lot of people will agree to say that fashion is subjective. It’s a form of expression that most of us embrace with such confidence as we curate the style we want to showcase, while others freely explore the vast field of styles fashion has to offer. Because it’s so personal and ever-changing, we have reached a point where any expression is accepted and welcomed.
We see this phenomenon as social media has become a tool to share the many styles people across the world have. Although there was one creator who saw past the trends and who fully embraced what it means to be unapologetically yourself, and that creator is none other than Carla Rockmore. In an exclusive interview with MEGA, we were able to dive deeper into Carla’s journey as a content creator, fashion designer, and role model of self-expression to many people worldwide.
At one point in the pandemic, and maybe until now, we were mindlessly scrolling through our feeds or checking which series is worth binging on just to pass the time. Among that crowd is 55-year old fashion designer and influencer Carla Rockmore, although the title “influencer” wasn’t part of her plan. It just so happened that TikTok became the it-app of the season and she was able to hit the niche in fashion TikTok right on time.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t purposefully start out thinking I was going to become a content creator at all. It was March 2020, during the lockdown, when after watching Netflix for a couple of weeks, I decided I needed to do something creative with my time.”
Carla Rockmore
Her delightful and vibrant character combined with her distinctive fashion taste weren’t the only things that captured the hearts of her audience, but it was also her fashion tips and tricks. She would make sure to cover all bases that are inclusive to size, color, and figure—creating a safe space for those who would watch her videos. She added, “To me, getting dressed is a form of self-expression without words. I love that my joy of styling became somewhat infectious to so many other people.”
That’s why it is no surprise to see her account on TikTok, @carlarockmore, go from 90 to 250,000 followers in just a week, while her Instagram account, @carla.rockmore, skyrocketed to 231,000 followers. Her content spread through TikTok like wildfire as people across the globe expressed their appreciation towards the countless techniques she shared, as well as the dauntless fashion she continues to advocate for.
Before her journey in content creation, Carla was already a massive fashion enthusiast. If you’ve seen her videos, you can already see her love towards one-of-a-kind pieces because of her two-story closet that houses the clothes she collected over the years.
Never one to shy away from a risky ensemble, Carla expressed that she isn’t afraid to experiment. Always trusting her intuition when it comes to presenting herself, she would navigate through the styles and trends by simply knowing what is right for her. “I never took fashion too seriously, and I was never afraid to experiment. Eventually, these items became the backbone of my personal style.”
It may seem like Carla is a collector of pieces or some sort—when in fact, she is not. Just like most of us, she would often go through each piece to see which one can flip that spark in her or simply tweak her interest. Guilty of buying a piece of clothing in many variations, Carla is simply a fashion enthusiast who loves to collect and mix and match.
Though it can be overwhelming to have such variety when it comes to your personal style, what if we tell you that it’s the key to having a dynamic look? For her personal style, Carla would often play with juxtaposition. Feminine details such as florals, ruffles, or lace would be paired with studded boots, leather jackets, or flared pants—a look that has tension yet tied perfectly with the right theme.
“The main ingredient in my personal style is creating tension in a look. I gravitate towards a very eclectic mix of patterns, colors, shapes, and eras. Boxing myself into one particular style or definition would give me anxiety.”
Carla Rockmore
Seeing that we may or may not have binged her content a few times, we can’t deny the boost of confidence we get as she continues to advocate for a fearless fashion we can unlock. But for those who are still contemplating whether or not to step out of the box, know that no one can determine who you are and who you need to be beyond the world of fashion. Carla said it herself—“What’s needed is that you express yourself creatively in one way or another. Find the way that works for you. It’s not necessarily going to be [fashionable] for everybody. But everybody needs a creative outlet—where they can express themselves and shine.”
Photography by STEWART COHEN
