It’s impossible to say where Weinberg ends and her fashion line begins. Her life, her style, even her marriage is completely intertwined with KOKOON, the women’s clothing brand she built in Minneapolis over the past 26 years. Her husband is her business partner, and gave her the initial courage to follow her dreams, even after dropping out of the University of Minnesota because she couldn’t afford tuition. And when the successful business they’d built faltered after 9/11, with boutiques around the country cancelling orders, Weinberg persevered again, transforming KOKOON into a direct sales company with a network of 75 sales associates nationwide.
She’s able to react quickly to what’s selling, and women appreciate the intimacy of buying from friends rather than a chain store. “I feel like I represent a lot of women I know, with an active, casual lifestyle. You might go from work to PTA meeting to cocktails to a fundraiser, and your clothes have to reflect a lot of different needs.” For that reason, dresses are Weinberg’s go-to. “I think a lot of women are trying to get out of a rut and would like to look more feminine. You feel good in a dress.”
“FOR ME, LIVING IN THE MIDWEST IS AN ADVANTAGE. I'M CONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE I'M ACTUALLY DESIGNING FOR—THEIR NEEDS, THEIR BODY TYPES.”
LAINE SHOPS
“I really do wear my own clothes,” the co-founder/designer of KOKOON says. But for outerwear, she loves Burberry. “I go for classic, beautiful pieces that are going to last.” For shoes, Stuart Weitzman is a go-to. Jeans, she’s a Levi’s lady. And Weinberg does get around town when it comes to home and gift shopping. “One of the best-kept secrets is the Vintage Studio at 50th & Xerxes. Amazing merchandise—vintage belts, barware—and the prices are ridiculously low.” Honeyshine in Linden Hills is another favorite stop, and she recently discovered Ciel Loft & Home
