A BEAUTIFUL LIFE, BY DESIGN

Mira Couture owner and head designer Julie Mersine has found the perfect balance between creating dream gowns in Chicago and raising her family in Hinsdale.

Julie Mersine fell in love with Hinsdale long before she called it home.

“They were always the nicest people,” Mersine tells Hinsdale Living regarding her clientele hailing from the western suburb, who routinely visit her Gold Coast boutique. “You get to know a town by the people you know from there.”

So, when it came time to move from the city to the suburbs in the fall of 2021, Mersine says she knew exactly where her heart wanted to go. “We are so happy,” she exclaims. “We’ve just met so many wonderful families. It’s really been a dream come true. At the girls’ school, they have open lunch, so on my days off I’ll take the girls out. Having to split my time between work and being a mom makes me appreciate both even more, especially these little moments of quality time and vacations together.”

Certainly, there was a time when this combination of a thriving career with a thriving life was not as seamless for Mersine. “I used to work six days a week, Monday through Saturday,” she explains. “Even when my second born was a baby, I was doing that. But now, I’m able to have both in a way I never imagined possible. I’ve got an incredible team at Mira, and my husband is a true partner. He even does a pretty decent bun for the girls’ ballet classes at Hinsdale Dance Academy. If I could clone myself I would, but right now I am doing the balancing act and I’m grateful for it.”

Mersine has made a living out of making dreams come true as the owner of the legendary bridal and custom fashion boutique located at 70 East Walton in Chicago.

“I never imagined my path going this way in the fashion world,” says Mersine, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). “When I was going to school for fashion design, I never even thought about this type of fashion design. I thought of fashion design as coming up with a fresh color palette with each season and playing with silhouettes and details. I imagined designing for a clientele that market research pointed to, doing spec sheets, and finding a vendor for production.”

However, the type of fashion designer Mersine became was very different, and she loves it. “When we do a custom design here at Mira, it’s for a very specific person with usually a very specific event,” she says. “And that’s a huge challenge that I love, and it’s on the spot. In a span of 20 minutes, we figure out the color, fabric and look; as well as how do we want it to flow and what kind of structure will give us the right look and feel.”

This type of project-based design is one of the reasons Mersine says no two days ever feel alike. “Everything is so different from every other one we’ve done because it’s a different venue, a different body, a different style or a different season,” she says. “And because of that, nothing gets stale… it’s always something new.”

And for Mersine, the experience is everything.

“When people walk into the store, I want them to feel the warmth and the welcoming vibe that we have going on, and that makes me so happy,” she says.

In fact, it’s a happiness that can still take Mersine’s breath away.

“I will be doing a photo shoot, or I’ll be at Bridal Market in New York and for a second, I’ll just be like, ‘Wow, this is really amazing that I really get to do what I love to do,’” she says.

It’s a truth that Mersine essentially learned from Mira Couture’s founder, Mira Horoszowski, soon after she began working with her in 2011. Mira Couture started in 1970, so the brand has a very rich history.

“I love finding out that a bride in our store has a grandmother, mother, aunt, etc. who wore a custom wedding gown by Mira,” says Mersine, who became sole owner of Mira Couture back in September of 2014. “When we restyle a ‘vintage’ Mira garment, it’s a very fun full-circle kind of moment! Often, they need so little restyling—we are proud of how timeless and classic Mira’s designs can stand the test of time.”

Today’s fashion landscape, she says, has only reinforced that desire to spend her days creating something truly special. “There’s a deeper appreciation for something amazing,” Mersine says. “Everything looks the same today. Fashion has become T-shirts and sweatpants, and I’m really sad for what fashion looks like in everyday clothing. But that has made people appreciate the opportunity to wear something really exciting for life’s biggest occasions.”

It’s when she’s given the freedom to create that Mersine seems most inspired, especially within the fashion shows she hosts at luxurious venues such as The Four Seasons, the 11th floor terrace of The St. Regis Hotel, Palm Court of The Drake Hotel, and The Waldorf Astoria to name a few.

“Custom designing for myself or for fashion shows is my absolute favorite part of what I do,” says Mersine. “I love being able to create something that’s more avant-garde while still drawing inspiration from something specific.”

The future also continues to inspire her.

“We’re actually in the process of bringing in some new designers to broaden our scope of bridal designers we offer in house,” she says. “We’ve worked with a lot of different designers over the years, but usually they’re pretty established. Some of these designers are very young and just establishing their businesses. I love the idea of supporting new designers, and especially as a woman, supporting other young women to become successful and achieve their dreams!”

And at the end of the day, her priorities remain rather simple. “When they walk in the door, it is not just about the dress,” explains Mersine. “It’s really about how you make that person feel. After all, the most beautiful things aren’t always designed with fabric and thread–they’re built through kindness, community, and the way people are made to feel. (Pauses.) I hope other people meet me and think, Hinsdale must be such a nice town.”