Ageless with Jane McGarry

What if the right colors could instantly make you look more vibrant, confident, and modern—at any age? 🎨✨

In this episode of the Ageless Jane McGarry Podcast, Jane sits down with style icon and fashion designer Carla Rockmore to talk all about finding the colors that work best for you after 50.

Carla shares expert insights on how our coloring changes over time, why certain shades can brighten your complexion, and how to stop playing it safe with black and beige. From embracing bold hues to refining your personal palette, this conversation is packed with practical advice to help you look and feel your most radiant—without chasing trends.

If you’ve ever wondered which colors truly flatter you now, this episode is a must-watch.

👉 In this episode, you’ll learn:
How aging affects skin tone and color choices
The most flattering colors to wear after 50
Common color mistakes to avoid
How to confidently experiment with color at any age

Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE if you’re redefining style and confidence on your own terms.  SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to join our Ageless Community, and get first access to trips, discounts on products and more:
https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=WLKFcJ&g=W3A2HV

And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE/SHARE/LIKE Ageless with Jane McGarry on:
» Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ageless-with-jane-mcgarry/id1846928246
» Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/Ageless-on-Spotify
» Twitter/X:  /TheJaneMcGarry 
» Instagram:  /janemcgarry
» Facebook:  /thejanemcgarry
» YouTube: / @janemcgarry_

FOLLOW: Carla Rockmore on:
» YouTube:  / @CarlaRockmore1  
» Instagram:  /carla.rockmore
» Facebook:  /Carla.Rockmore.Style
» TikTok:  /carlarockmore
» Website: www.carlarockmore.com
DISCOUNT CODE:  And as a special treat for this community, you can use the code CARLAROCKMORE20 for a discount on any item at carlarockmore.com.

#AgelessStyle #Over50Style #CarlaRockmore #JaneMcGarry #ColorConfidence #StyleAtAnyAge #FashionAfter50

Creators and Guests

Host
Jane McGarry
Good Morning Texas host, inspiring women 60 plus to fully live their purpose driven lives with faith & style. Loves: God, travel, fashion, color, food, interior design, and of course family.
Guest
Carla Rockmore
A 56 year old stylist, influencer, and jewelry designer living in Dallas, Texas. Carla’s career spans over 30 years designing clothing and accessories in Montreal, Toronto, and Amsterdam while traveling the world extensively. Now she is sharing her fashion tips on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook through her infectious personality and joie de vivre (love of life!)

What is Ageless with Jane McGarry?

In a world that profits off of the youth and those trying to recapture it, I call B.S.

Every episode will bring expert guests, heartfelt advice, and down-to-earth conversations designed for women just like us—curious, open, and determined to live fully at every age. I’ll be asking the questions I want answers to for my own life, and offering a safe, supportive space for all of us to learn together.

I sincerely invite you to be among the very first to listen, subscribe, and join this vibrant new community of women redefining what it means to be “ageless.”

Subscribe to Ageless with Jane McGarry wherever you get your podcasts!

Carla:

You know, you're never quite sure you're fluctuating between two sizes. Buy both. It's easy to return.

Jane:

Other than having your colors done, do you have any tips for women on getting comfortable with color and finding colors that look good on them?

Carla:

It's cut me in half, and I've shrunk it side to side. So a crossword for casual days is a really, really great thing to have.

Jane:

Welcome to ageless with Jane McGarry, where we celebrate vibrant health, self care, timeless style, and finding purpose at every age. Because around here, age truly is just a number. Chances are you have seen me wear these earrings or maybe this bracelet. I love me some accessories. I honestly think that styling can make so much difference in how we feel about how we look, looking vibrant, looking modern, looking ageless.

Jane:

So I've asked someone who is a dear friend who I think the world of, and also she has the best tips on earth for midlife and beyond and even younger dressing. So welcome Carla Rockmore from the famous closet.

Carla:

Oh, team. What an entrance there. What intro. Thank you so much for all that. And, the pressure on top of it.

Jane:

I love the fact that you joined us from the closet. I have been in the closet with Carla. Experience. Yeah. So look, I just wanna real briefly for women who are watching, are alike or listening and they're like 50, 55, 60, and you know, you can kind of get into the doldrums or whatever.

Jane:

How much difference does, do you think style remaining modern and fresh make in what I call ageless, which is enjoying your life as long as you live?

Carla:

Yes, I believe it plays a huge, integral part of our, growing into ourselves as we, you know, blossom into the next chapter of our lives. I really do. I think firstly, can take, we can, accept as much as we can get in terms of a little boost or a little more pep in our step right now, but I don't know, it's like you hit a certain age and all of a sudden you become slightly more invisible according to the rest of the world, And, I think this is the time for us to really shine and step up. And if clothing can help us feel better and feel more interested in what else is going on, I say, go for it.

Jane:

And one of the things I love that you talk about is not trying to copy someone else, but your signature is sitting well in your skin.

Carla:

Yes.

Jane:

Talk about that for a minute.

Carla:

Yes. It's actually, I stole it from the French. It's a French term and it goes, which means she sits well in her skin. And you know, the French women, they grow into beauties without much plastic surgery, there's nothing wrong with plastic surgery girl, you need a little nip and tuck, you go for it, whatever makes sense.

Jane:

But it's expensive among other things.

Carla:

Well that's it and it's not necessary. I mean, you do what you need to do to make yourself feel good, but if you sit well in your skin over and above your jeans, you're going to look better because you're going to project to everybody else your confidence. And there's nothing more beautiful than confidence. You can or you can tweak or you can add a tiny bit more confidence through your clothing and your accessories.

Jane:

What are tips like if a woman is considering adding some pieces to her wardrobe, she's who you said, she has that black sweater and a black skirt and a black dress, and she says, I need to keep wearing this because I don't want to spend a whole ton of money on new pieces, but I want to add a few things that will sparkle. Are there specific things you would add, and where do you go buy these things? People always ask me, Where do you get all your jewelry? And I'm like, All over the place.

Carla:

Right.

Jane:

Where I see it.

Carla:

Would absolutely look to a statement color coat because it doesn't have to be a heavy, you know, quilted down thing, but it should be color.

Jane:

A statement color coat. Okay, so if you're looking at your closet and you have all these boring things, talk about a statement color coat. How do you figure out the color? How do you figure out the style? Why a statement color coat?

Carla:

I mean, look, Jane, I am not trying to give you a shameless plug here, but may I use one of my coats an explanation, a little demo, if I may say so.

Jane:

Honey, you're the proof is in the pudding with you. I'm not worried about you trying to sell us stuff. I wanna look like you.

Carla:

Oh, well, thank you, lovey. You know, it takes a village. But let me just say, as a Canadian, do come by this honestly. The coat was the look from head to toe. You could be in PJs underneath, but you learn early on that a coat, whether it be something lightweight or whether it be something a little heavier depending on where you are in the world, if it's a knee length or lower, okay, this one happens, this is my, wool coat here.

Jane:

Okay. That's beautiful.

Carla:

It's in a delicious orchid color, but there are a couple of reasons why I love it so much. Primarily it has a lot of room in it. So if you have your black sweater or your ivory thick cable knit at home, you want something with color that you can easily and quickly slip your arms through that, don't restrict you in any way when you're running around. You also want to look to something that is a little bit unstructured, maybe unlined like this one. This is a very lightweight topper.

Carla:

It's not so much a coat as it mimics a cardigan, is great for Southern winters.

Jane:

And it finishes your outfit.

Carla:

It finishes your outfit. It's that layering piece. And I bet you that a lot of us ladies, when we look in our closet, we've got a black cardigan or a cream or an oatmeal cardigan.

Jane:

And we know we've got a black dress.

Carla:

That's it. So if you put a fuchsia or an, you know, a tomato red or an electric blue topper over top your pieces that are a little tired, it's function and it's fashion. And it comes with built in blush, so to speak. As we age, as we age, we gotta let go of the beige ladies.

Jane:

As you know, I am on board with everything you are saying. And during the break, I have a tomato red coat that I'm gonna pull out and put in here. But let me tell you something. I had to look long and hard for a tomato red coat because the coats are all black, brown, and beige. So Carla, how do we go about solving that?

Carla:

Well, there are boutique shopping rather than big box stores will invest in smaller buys so they are more prone to playing with interesting, European or smaller American designers. Go to your local strip mall, you know, go to your local shops. And I bet you, if you, you know, it takes a little work. Everything takes a little work, but there are certain stores that will have them around. Also, dare I say it, go to contemporary shops you may not have thought have anything for you, like H and M or Zara.

Jane:

Zara's wonderful. Right.

Carla:

Phenomenal resources for very good prices and they turn so quickly. One thing I do have to give a little tip to when it comes to Zara shopping because it can be a nightmare in the store. Don't do it. Go online.

Jane:

Everything I have from Zara is online.

Carla:

Online girl. Yeah. And then, you know, their sizes can be a little odd. You know, you're never quite sure you're fluctuating between two sizes. Buy both.

Carla:

It's easy to return.

Jane:

I've done this. I've totally done this. I bought a small and a medium and I'm like, whichever one doesn't fit is going back. No question. That's great.

Jane:

Hey, before the coats, those are your coats, right? As in you own them, but as in your, they're your style.

Carla:

Oh yes. I mean, is, they're all on carlarockmore.com. They're really fan fantastic investments, and I must say, you know, I do get a lot of DMs from a lot of ladies, and the coats are very popular because they're so light, because they're travel friendly, and because they're so transitional. This isn't your winter coat. It's not gonna keep you warm in 30 degrees.

Carla:

Forget it. But it's your fall coat and it's your spring coat. And if you get it in a color, you're going to be surprised at how many compliments you get. Really, it's a great coat.

Jane:

My red coat that I have, every time I wear it, women say to me, Where did you get that coat? Where did you get that coat? Every single time I wear it. By the way, I'm going to give folks, and it'll be in the show notes, Carla has been sweet enough to give us a discount code. So if you want to go a little shopping on carlarockmore.com, we have a discount code.

Jane:

The beautiful colors of coats, I love color. I have a hot pink sofa, what can I

Carla:

say? How

Jane:

does a woman I I had my colors done when I was ages ago, ages But you know what? It was the best $350 or whatever it was I've ever spent in my life because they really are my colors. How do you go about, other than having your colors done, do you have any tips for women on getting comfortable with color and finding colors that look good on them? Sometimes once you get into the groove, I know, I know what works and what doesn't, but any tips on that?

Carla:

Well, know what the easiest and least expensive way to do it is? You go to, CVS or Walmart, you buy yourself two pink lipsticks or two lipsticks. If you, you know, it's just for a test ladies. Even if you don't wear pink or red lips, which I do encourage you to do because it's it's time to play with color on your face. By one, I'm just gonna pick out red, okay?

Carla:

By one orange red lipstick by one, exactly, and by one blue red lip stick. And you can literally take both those lipsticks home. You put them on and you see how you feel. You put literally wear and don't do them the same day because you've stained your lips and then, no, don't do the just one day, wear that orange red out, wear it with your, you know, navy blue, please ladies, rather than black sweater. Okay?

Carla:

And, go out through your day and keep looking at yourself in the mirror here and there as you, you know, in the ladies room, whatever, go out to the stores and then do it the next day with the blue red, same sweater. You will naturally get one or two either compliments or, just a look at yourself in the mirror against different light and say, wow, that looks great, or, oh God, it looks like I need a nap. And then you know if you need this sort of warmer orange colors or cooler blue colors.

Jane:

Okay. I wanna talk about basics, how to pick basics, because you said something a minute ago that reminded me of something when you said, please, ladies, navy, not black. We'll be right listening to this podcast, you may be about my age, and that might mean that you haven't taken really good care of your teeth all your life. When we were growing up, they didn't tell us to brush our gums and all that kind of stuff. So a lot of us have been left with problems with our teeth.

Jane:

I want to encourage you now at the 2026 to call Mint Dentistry and get your teeth checked. Just go in, let them take the X rays, let them look at your teeth, let them make recommendations. They have excellent dentists. They use cutting edge technology. I've been a client for probably ten years now, and I'm extremely happy.

Jane:

Mint is a sponsor of this podcast. They help make this possible. So give Mint a call today. Mint is our friend. Call them, make an appointment, and please tell them that Jane sent you.

Jane:

I told you I had a beautiful red coat. And it's actually kind of cool in my house, so I think I just may keep it on for a while. So, you. Is the coat I constantly get compliments on. It's color of red.

Jane:

It's roomy, like you said, so I can just throw it over anything. So, other than colors, like I said, when you said, ladies, please, navy instead of black. Go there, Carla.

Carla:

Well, now you've got your color palette, so to speak. Now you've got it grounded in your basics, right? Your basics are black, navy, chocolate brown, maybe a little bit of eggplant, maybe a little bit of charcoal gray, these grounding colors, right? But because they're grounding, sometimes they can be draining. You want that color or that metal, whether it be a piece of jewelry or glasses or whatever next to your face, But the most difficult one to wear is the one that we've been wearing since the eighties, head to toe, black.

Carla:

Now I have never

Jane:

That's gonna that's gonna come as a shock to a lot of women. They're like, oh my gosh. I've got all this black. Why is it so difficult to wear?

Carla:

Well, you know, it's just a natural progression. As we age, we lose that plumpness. We lose a little bit of that glow, a little bit of that dewy youth, unfortunately, and we maybe get a little dry patch here or there, maybe some gray hairs, and black does not help the situation. Black sucks up. It sucks everything away.

Carla:

It's like a black hole. Now not for some. For some, you can wear it going, you know, forward. If you're very, very dark or very, very light skinned, you can wear black till the cows come home and look gorgeous. But for most of us, you need yes.

Carla:

You need

Jane:

I'm not very, very dark or very, very light.

Carla:

Right.

Jane:

I'm like a lot of people just kind of Right.

Carla:

And so, navy and chocolate brown are beautiful alternatives to black for, for women. If you've got Navy close to your face, tiny bit of color, even though it is a slight, slight compared to black, you know, blue is just a slightly different will live in your skin up rather than drain you.

Jane:

So if you're like every woman out there who has a wardrobe of basic blacks, how can you start if you're gonna buy a piece here or a piece there? How do you suggest starting to incorporate some of those navies and chocolate browns or whatever? I'm gonna throw one out here. A navy sweater is a great place to start or a navy jacket because you can wear navy with black. It's beautiful.

Jane:

Black on the bottom away from your face and throw on navy on the top. Agree?

Carla:

Love, love, love. Another easy thing, for sure a top. You've gotta start with the top, whether it be a t shirt, a sweater, or a shirt because you gotta deal with your face. It's your face that you need to compliment, not yours. So start with your top a 100%.

Carla:

And you know, if you don't wanna invest in even a top, buy a scarf. A scarf is a great way to add a little bit of softness to black. There are many times where I'm, you know, running from place to place. I'm at the airport. I've got my black sweater on that I wear in the airport all the time, but I will carry a navy or a leopard or you know, maybe something with burgundy scarf, that breaks up the black next to my face.

Carla:

And it's less expensive than investing in a garment. For the most part, you can find it until you're ready to say, okay, now I'm ready to give up my black sweater and switch it out for my chocolate brown sweater.

Jane:

Another thing women have a lot of problems with that I know I have seen yours, your bags. Bags can be really difficult. I I have the hardest time finding a bag I like. I try one and I was like, No, that doesn't exactly work. Talk about why your bags work.

Jane:

And I don't know if you have one handy or not that you could show.

Carla:

I have a bunch of bags that are handy. You know, here's a really great tip when it comes to bags. Consider what you're wearing in your outfit because bags can compete And if you're wearing something a little more elevated, you want to look a little fancier, choose a bag that sits away from your body and doesn't doesn't compete with your outfit. If you wear a shoulder bag and a nice looking dress, the shoulder bag is going to hang right down next to that dress and somewhat compete. It'll drag a bit of shoulder down.

Carla:

You'll look a little off kilter. It'll make your hip look wider because you're adding it right in that spot. A shoulder bag looks sensational with a pair of denims and a white button down shirt. You know, if you're seventies, that's where a shoulder bag should sit. Okay?

Carla:

Whereas a clutch or a top handle, something that sits away a little bit will just be a little like a little side hustle. Right? A cross body on the other hand, a cross body on the other hand, adds a lot of it adds a lot of, value to a look because the diet here, I've got mine here. I designed this for two reasons. First of all, it's huge.

Carla:

So, it carries everything in during the day, but it's also cross body. So all of a sudden when I wear it, I've created this diagonal line across, it's not straight up and down. It's literally diagonal. So what has that done? It's cut me in half and I've shrunken side to side.

Carla:

Right? A crossword for casual days is a really, really great thing to have. I would always say, get a crossbody ladies, get some sort of clutch or clutch or top handle bag. Shoulder bag is negligible. I

Jane:

love that. How many collars does that come in?

Carla:

Goodness. We've got a few.

Jane:

No. I'm serious because I know women watching are gonna be like, that's a really cute bag. Where can I go? That's

Carla:

This is the OG of bags. I have women who, swear by Vuitton and Gucci and they get one of these and they're like, I am done. This is the bag. I've got it in a mini size for those of us who want something a little more. I take these

Jane:

That's cute. I love that.

Carla:

All day long. And I've got them in the larger one, which just looks super cool. But more importantly, they're in a faux leather. So you you can throw them on the floor, god forbid, in in a bathroom if you have to and wipe them down. Are indecent.

Jane:

Those are adorable.

Carla:

They're and they're completely zippered up. You can't get pick pocketed. There's an inside zipper for your wall and there's also a detachable little mini. So if you're running, you know, and you just go into the market and you don't want to carry a whole thing, there you go. But you can fit everything in the kitchen sink in this.

Carla:

It's fantastic.

Jane:

We're gonna be right back with Carla in just a minute. If you're watching or listening to this podcast and you haven't subscribed yet, please subscribe to my newsletter. I've got a link in the show notes. I send out a newsletter every week. We, if you're a part of the ageless community, you get the first invitation to girls trips that we take.

Jane:

Also, have special workshops where I have some of my experts, hair, makeup, all that kind of stuff. We talk about relationships, just all kinds of good things. The most fun is that you get to meet new friends, other women just like us. It's really easy. It's free.

Jane:

All you have to do, I want you to be a part of our ageless community. Just subscribe. The link is in the show notes. Carla has one more treat she wants to show us. Carla, what have you got?

Carla:

I do. So actually, I have two more. I wanna show you.

Jane:

Oh, okay. Cool.

Carla:

But I'll show you the first one. The first one is my faux leather dress. And I designed this because I had something similar and it was threadbare, threadbare by the time I was done with it. Primarily because it's it's so chic in its, simple caftan form, and it's also so forgiving. Anyone can wear it.

Jane:

Can I tell you what I love about the cut of that dress? I'm at a point in my life where my silhouette from the back is not the most flattering. Yep. And I I I think it just happens with women. That gives you some gathering in the front for a little bit of femininity, but freedom in the back.

Carla:

Freedom in the back. You can have that extra Christmas cookie. And and the placement of the drawstring is super important because it's not at your waistline. It's not at your And a lot of women, you know, we some of us don't have waists anymore.

Jane:

I don't look good in a regular waistline. I'm too short waisted and full breasted. I look Right? It's not good.

Carla:

Whereas just under your breast

Jane:

That's here is a much more flattering cut.

Carla:

Much more flattering. And it's got pockets. It's got a beautiful V which shows off a decollete or maybe a necklace. And then let's say you want something a little more fitted. All you do is you take these drawstring cords right here and you tie them around the back Well for a completely different dress.

Jane:

Look at you. Right?

Carla:

All of a sudden, I've got all of a

Jane:

be wearing I'll be wearing the first version, but that is adorable. Right?

Carla:

I mean Yeah. Let me give you a little tip here. If you do a boot, like a a riding boot in a similar color to the dress, I've got it in this beautiful aubergine, but also in this delicious bitter chocolate brown.

Jane:

Oh, pretty.

Carla:

Right. And you and you wear a boot that doesn't sort of break up your leg right here. You're gonna be able to wear it tied up if you like. Because it's really it's up it's up top. It's not at your waistline.

Carla:

It's kinda

Jane:

like Right.

Carla:

Right? Right. So I like to design things that are very useful for us because we can get a little crazy when things are not useful anymore.

Jane:

That's what I love about you, Carla. Okay. You said you had one more thing. One more thing you wanna show me?

Carla:

Yes. Because I was going nuts trying to find a tote. I'm a working woman and I cannot stand not being able to find a tote without all the partitions I need. Exactly. So I made this tote bag and it comes with everything you need.

Carla:

First of all, it comes in exuberant colors or classic colors. So there's a lot, there's black, there's whatever you want. Then inside the tote you get, it's a double duty. You get a mini sling. So like this is your work bag and you're on your four day trip.

Carla:

And then you're like That's

Jane:

genius.

Carla:

Yeah. You know, you get to your hotel and you're like, geez, I forgot a handbag because I have got this thing. Well, no, you didn't because you've got this fantastic cross body sling bag that looks so cute on, you know, a Saturday night if you need to. You can also do it short like this. You know?

Carla:

And then the inside of this baby is what's really impressive. You've got a sleeve for your, luggage. Right? Right. You've got a computer sleeve, a book sleeve.

Carla:

You've got a water bottle holder in here, an elastic one. You've got two smaller pockets for your phone and your and your accessories.

Jane:

Oh, that's so wonderful because everything isn't just all rolling around.

Carla:

Right. And then in the center you have for your makeup case, whatever. I mean, it's just it's

Jane:

That's adorable. How many colors does that come in? I'm all about the color always.

Carla:

At least, at least five or six. So they're all on the website. Emerald green and fire engine red and basics like black and this saffron is one of my favorite. And then we've got avocado. Just some beautiful, beautiful colors.

Jane:

That's great. I have a couple more questions and then I'm gonna let you go. I appreciate all your time today. One thing that I mentioned is just that I have decided that freeing yourself from the constraints of dresses or whatever that are meant to cinch you in so you will be appealing to a man. I mean, if you want to wear that once in a while, that's okay.

Jane:

But I think there's a lot of confidence and independence in being comfortable, not only in your skin, but also in your clothing.

Carla:

Oh, yeah. I give every woman over 50 permission to buy the same pair of pants and six different colors and 70 combinations of fabrications, if they so suit you. And I have a bunch of those. I don't try and reinvent the wheel, every season. I may pepper in a trend, in something as inexpensive as I can find, just to give me a little freshness.

Carla:

But my basics are the same cuts of pants that I feel comfortable first and foremost, and I feel easy to incorporate into the types of clothes that I like to wear.

Jane:

Anything we need to know about that's coming from you in 2026?

Carla:

Oh lordy. So I started working with QVC. I'm very, very excited. We've got every second month starting in February, a Carla Rockmore collection drop of about 15 to 20 fresh pieces every month, all the way through to 2027, and designed by me, and there's all kinds of stuff in that collection. There's pants.

Carla:

There's sweaters. There's a whole travel collection. So if you're, you know, doing a long road trip to visit your cousins, you'll feel comfortable and still look good when you get there.

Jane:

So look for you on QVC.

Carla:

QVC, Carla Rockmore Collection, or you can go online right now and put it in the search bar.

Jane:

And use our special discount code. Carla, thank you so much. Thank you for the time. Thank you for the, just the always inspiration for women our age. A little older than you, our age in living life to its fullest at every single age.

Jane:

A

Carla:

100%. I do have to correct one thing. Barbararockmore.com, which is my own website. That's where we've got the code. QVC, they would murder me if I gave you a code.

Carla:

I don't know how to do it.

Jane:

Carlarockmore.com is where the code is. Carla, thanks so much. Have a great 2026.

Carla:

You too, Jane. It was a pleasure as always.

Jane:

If you're a first time listener or watcher, thanks for being with us today. If you're one of my regular viewers or listeners, thank you so much for being part of the ageless with Jane community. I really appreciate it. Without you, none of this is possible. Thanks for being with us today, and we'll see you next week on ageless with Jane.