Rebecca Weinberg
By Danielle Cantor

Rebecca Weinberg doesn't just know New York style, she's invented it. For four trend-setting seasons, the former Sex and the City stylist and costume designer took risks-gorgeous, outrageous, body-baring, stiletto-wearing risks-that turned Miranda, Samantha, Carrie and Charlotte into America's favorite fashion plates.

Weinberg's unfailing sense of cool has earned a slew of honors from the fashion and entertainment industries and the gay and lesbian community. And of course, there was the Emmy Award: After four nominations, a 2002 win for Outstanding Costumes-the perfect end to Weinberg's last season with Sex and the City. Looking forward, the Texas native is finding new vehicles to deliver her unique brand of style-opportunities behind and in front of the camera that leave room for a home, a family and a new life outside the city.

Was your upbringing stereotypically Jewish, or did your family break out of the mold the way that you have?
My family is so far out and so much fun. My Dad had wanted to be a musician all his life. He wound up working for his family, but he always pursued his music. He even owned a discotheque in the 70's. My mom is Sephardic and extremely beautiful. She was a model and also, for a short time, a trapeze artist in the circus. Not typical at all, huh? My parents were all about the arts and creative living. I had Jewish tradition-my father's side is Orthodox-but it wasn't forced on me. They just encouraged me to find the beauty in tradition and it was my choice to live it or not.

The High Holidays are known, at least on the East Coast, as the Jewish community's own little fashion week of sorts. Was that the case in Houston?
Yes—especially where my grandparents lived, in the more Jewish part of Houston. But my family was like that anyway. Any opportunity to show off something new, they would do it. It was always a parade of something new.

Who influenced your style in your formative years?
I was always very attracted to vaudeville and the 1920s and '30s. Josephine Baker—she was an icon. She broke rules. I loved eccentric Hollywood types. As for people in my everyday life, my aunts were influential. When you grow up Jewish in Texas, everyone is eccentric. I have an aunt Pumpkin and an Aunt Kitty, they were all sex symbols to me when I was young, because they were all so "done." Their nails were done, their hair was done, they were full of jewelry. I never wanted to be casual because of the influence of my family-I used to dress up wherever I went. I didn't even wear jeans until about five years ago.

Were you setting trends of your own in those days?
I was very "Lucille Ball" as a kid, all about color. I wore those platform shoes that turned into rollerskates with striped knee socks and knickers and a polo shirt buttoned up to the top. I have all kinds of photos of my fashion mishaps. My Mom loved clothes, she encouraged me to wear colors and be a little eccentric. I owe all my style to my parents—they were totally styling.

Any plans to start a family of your own?
My partner—a nice Jewish girl—and I just bought a home together on Long Island, and we're planning to have a baby this year. It just feels right. I'm 35, I don't want to get any older and miss the opportunity of having children. I can always be as crazy as I want, but I'll be centered by this family. It's so scary and exciting at the same time. I don't think I'll ever feel as fulfilled as I will if I have children.

Describe your home.
My home in the city isn't warm, it's more minimal and feng shuied. I live in a loft that's about 2500 square feet. I'm not cozy there-it's an office with a couch and a kitchen, more based around business than home. Our new house in Long Island is our real home. Since New York is the home of the worker bees, with my new home I'm looking forward to spending my weekends relaxing. The house in the country feels warm and inviting and that's where I want to sit and cook dinner and have my family and socialize.

You and your long-time creative partner, Patricia Field, were romantic partners for a time. Which relationship came first?
I met her when I was 19 and she was 47. We were together for 11 years. She didn't get me started in the business, but she had a lot to do with my work. We always worked together. She was my mentor. With such a great age difference, what it all boils down to is that she was the greatest influence of my life.

Are you an outspoken member of the gay community?
I'm not a big flag-waver. I don't think people in the fashion community separate me as gay. There are so many homosexuals in the [fashion] industry anyway; I'm one of millions. I donate money privately and I don't go to functions. You won't find me in the bar every night, that's not me. But I've certainly spoken to gay and lesbian students about the industry. I have a lot of integrity. If young gays and lesbians can look up to that, it's wonderful. There are so many poor influences. If I can be a positive one, I'm grateful.

Have you had any experiences with domestic abuse in the gay community?
I have had personal experience: I was about 17 years old and I had an older girlfriend who was very aggressive and violent. She attacked me, I don't even remember what it was about-possibly drugs. She's actually since died because of drugs. Luckily at the time there was help for me in the community, and I had support from AA and AlAnon, which is something I've used to keep my life on the straight and narrow. Hitting somebody in any community is crossing a boundary-that person needs to pay for it and you need to walk away alive. That's what I did. I'm not one to go back and give a second chance.

What's your feeling on the fashion industry's impact on young women's body image?
I don't want to point the finger, but I do think we promote an excessive need to be thin, and we need more diversity. I've had the pleasure to dress women of all shapes and sizes. I want to do my best with every body type. It's my job to make them feel good. We have so much information available to live a healthy lifestyle-I think it's more productive to just promote that lifestyle. That's the most positive thing I can work on: finding inner beauty.

Before you started dressing performers, you were a performer yourself. Can you see yourself going back to your roots?
When I arrived in New York and started doing cabaret, I saw myself as Bette Midler. But I realized she came of age in a different time in society, and that time isn't coming back. I stopped performing in 1997. I have no plans for it anymore, not at all. I'm happy I did it. I got to travel all over world. But then I just grew up. When I found myself working with celebrities, I think I just fancied myself there. It felt like a means to performance.

What are you working on now?
I haven't wanted to take another TV show now because of the hours. I've just been freelancing, and I do very well with that. It's more money, less hours, and I'm treated better. I'm also the spokesperson for three companies: LG picture phones, Amazon.com Apparel and Accessories, and Rado watches. I do all the public appearances for Amazon. And for Rado I have private appointments with people, to talk about their style and help them pick a watch that suits them. It's a lot of fun, and it's educated me a lot.

What's next?
A little dressing, a little styling, a little TV. I'm not grand; I just want to make enough money to live. Every day it's on to the next thing. That's what's great about what I do—I never get bored.