The New York Times Magazine - USA (2022-02-12)

Screenland

10 2.13.

Above and opening page: Screen grabs from Instagram

as a stylist, and she considered herself
a natural entertainer, so she decided to
try something new. In her fi rst video, the
camera is low to the ground, off ering a
wide view of her spectacular closet, which
features two stories, a spiral staircase and
a fi replace. Rockmore steps into the frame
wearing a sky blue coat and red lipstick,
bending down from the waist to address
the camera. ‘‘So, coronavirus,’’ she says.
‘‘What the [expletive] do we do?’’
Now, after more than 250 posts and
what feels like 10,000 years, Rockmore,
who is 54, has acquired roughly 75,000 fol-
lowers on Instagram and a million on Tik-
Tok, where she is known as ‘‘the real Carrie
Bradshaw.’’ She has been interviewed by
Vogue; her closet has been featured by

Architectural Digest. She is admired for

her style (playful, bold) and her personality

(jubilant), but what may be most striking

is the way she highlights her age. On You-

Tube, her tagline is ‘‘Over Fifty Fashion’’;

on Instagram, ‘‘Celebrating the self-expres-

sion of 50+ through fashion, fun, & fi erce-

ness.’’ Nowhere is she sheepish in the way

typically required of women ‘‘over 40’’ — a

phrase often accompanied, in media, by

some sort of Dorothea Lange-style photo

of what appears to be a 90-year-old Dust

Bowl migrant.

In her videos, Rockmore builds outfi ts

around themes, ideas or decades, experi-

menting with color, volume and texture.

She’ll start with a cowboy boot, or a nos-

talgic thought about Diana Ross in the

1970s, or a vintage bag. Then begin rapid

cuts, adding pieces and accessories. The

wardrobe she pulls from is fantastical,

stocked with fur hats, patent leggings and

voluminous skirts, and her speaking style

is over-the-top bubbly, at times oddly

similar to Julia Child’s. The chief quality

she exudes is joy; you’re struck by how

happy she seems, how confi dent in who

she is. Our media don’t show us so many

examples of women this age who know

who they are and clearly like it.

The modern closet was initially a pri-

vate space, where items could be hidden

from public view. But it has been steadily

reconceived as a repository of potential

and dreams, a place from which a ‘‘true’’

self can emerge. Add enough wealth, and

Photo illustration by Najeebah Al-Ghadban

As Rockmore

has said,

50-year-old

women

tend to know

who they are

and what

they want.