Interview with Art of Being Female

There are people you meet in life that have instant positive energy when you see them, and Mimi Zein is one of them. I met her many years ago when she worked at one of my favorites, A’Maree’s boutique in Newport Beach, and was so happy for her when she opened her store in Lido Village a few years ago. She has such style and grace, and is always so sweet and engaging. You can see her sense of style the minute you walk in the door in her charming store that carries art, furniture, tabletop, clothing, jewelry, books and accessories from around the world.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your family and your background?

I was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. I went to an American school, the International College. My dad had a publishing house that had a presence in several countries, so he had to travel a lot and the whole family tagged along with him on many of his trips. Those trips were invaluable to me. My parents are art and antiques lovers, which meant a lot of time during those trips was spent in art galleries, museums, and antiques stores. That was the start of what would become a love affair with good design, good art, and a fairly objective way of looking at what different cultures and people deem important.

What did you study in school?

I have a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in French Literature.