Page 6

Q&A Once Upon a Mitzvah founder

Stacey Lyn Weinstein gives pro hair tips

Page 8

Unique Boutique Best Dressed New York styles you

from head to toe

Page 13

Well Heeled Complete your look with

inspired shoes

Page 17

Catwalk to Sidewalk Crazy cool inspiration for

your party look

Page 25

Rugged Meets Refined

Reinventing the meaning of formal

Page 35

Pretty Women

5 mitzvah mothers show how it's done

Page 10

Beauty For Teens

Meet the owner of Willa Girl Skincare

4

Photographer Jamie Kaplan created

Mazel magazine because she felt that there

was no media outlet properly covering the

modern world of sophisticated bar and bat

mitzvah celebrations happening in America.

Today’s events exude elegance and creativity.

There are many talented professional continuing

to elevate the art of the bar and bat mitzvah

celebration.

Today the bar mitzvah party rivals

the attention to detail put into weddings.

Many felt that parents and children did not

have an elegant source to draw inspiration

from, so Mazel is attempting to serve as this

gathering spot. We call it a gathering spot

because our hope is to build a community

online for Jewish families.

Let’s start a revolution. Coming of

age never looked so good.

5

Stacey Lyn Weinstein, owner of Once Upon a Bride, Once Upon a Mitzvah and Loft26 Salon, has been doing hair for her girlfriends’ bat mitzvahs since she was a teenager. The Long Island native has since become one of the most-sought-after bridal hair

and makeup stylists and has been inex-tricably linked to reality TV from her appearances on “Bethenny Ever After.” Mazel visited Weinstein at her Chel-sea salon to grab tips on how to achieve stunning hair and makeup for mitzvah families – yes, guys too.

7

Mazel: So, what is the number

one tip you can give to girls who

want to look their best on their

mitzvah celebration?

Weinstein: I tell them not to try too

hard to look a certain way that doesn’t

fit their personality. I have them bring in

pictures of celebrities and anything else

that inspires them. One girl really loved

Taylor Swift and we managed to really

deliver to her the look she wanted. Or,

depending on the girl’s personality, we

can go with something that is closer to

her everyday look but glammed up a

little bit. But right now the trend seems

to be that girls are really into following

celebrity looks and that’s something we

are happy to make happen for them.

M: What about makeup?

W: The great thing about teenagers is

that they are young and don’t need a lot

of makeup. But at that age you can also

run into blemishes, but with the right

makeup we can really make a girl feel

confident on her big day. Usually for a

young girl, the makeup we do is very

minimal and subtle.

M: What is your top technique?

W: Hair extensions are like magic. You

can do so much with them to really

create a dramatic look and the best ones

look so natural these days. Even if your

real hair isn’t perfect your extensions

will be.

M: How would you describe your

approach to hair?

W: I think it’s a romantic take on the

classic. I want my clients to feel as if they

are getting the most glamorous versions

of themselves.

M: What’s a mistake you see

being made with mitzvah style?

W: Well, sometimes a mother will

bring in a look, maybe it’s from her first

mitzvah, and it’d be from years ago. What

looked good then often isn’t what looks

good now. That’s the thing about hair.

Visit loft26salon.com for more

information.

Best Dressed New York

is a boutique for the bat mitzvah girl with a strong sense of personal style

9

Best Dressed New York - 136 E. 73rd St., 3rd floor (appointment only) bestdressedny.com

These days, it’s pretty common for a preteen girl to be

up on what’s hot in the elite circles of fashion. Now,

mini-SJPs have a place in Manhattan that can true deliver

high-end looks for her coming-of-age celebration.

Best Dressed New York is the brainchild of Erica

Serotta (pictured at left), and Cortney Cohen Upper East

Side mothers who knew there was a place for a small

boutique focusing on couture-style dresses for young women.

The boutique is located in a third-floor townhouse

home on the UES, which gives clients the feeling as if they

were entering a private showroom. Racks filled with

sequined gowns, understated dresses and accessories

are just a starting point for shopping for that perfect

dress, or dresses.

“We are actually seeing more customers doing dress

changes,” said Serotta. “Some girls are changing from a

ball gown for the earlier part of the evening and then the

party starts and they change into a shorter sparkly

number as their second dress.”

Some of the top-selling brands are Sherri Hill, Jovani,

Terani and Stella M’lia. Custom couture dresses are ideal

to complete a vision and take about 12 to 15 weeks to

turn around. The Best Dressed New York customer is

definitely in-tune with the latest looks on the runways

and red carpets.

That said, Serotta points out that most bat mitzvah

dresses are still based on classical looks that are age-

appropriate.

“The biggest trend we see is for girls to match the

colors of their theme,” said Serotta. “We are seeing fuller

skirts and shorter dresses in general, but also lots of

nude. It’s the ‘it’ color.”

The experience is what sets Best Dressed apart, said

Cohen, who is an expert at putting together an entire look

based on input from her clients.

“When you come into our showroom we listen to you,

encourage you to bring in photos of looks you like and

then work with you to achieve the perfect look,” said

Cohen. “This is one of the girl’s biggest moments, and we

want to make her feel special.”

11

No longer wanting to smell like a baby or resort to using her mom’s product, Willa Doss decided to take matters into her own hands. She created Willa Girl, a line of skin care products for girls 7 through 14. It has made its way onto major retailers from J.Crew Crewcuts to Target to Henri Bendel.

At a recent appearance on Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue to promote her line, Doss, 12, told Mazel she was excited to see her line on display inside the venerable high-end retailer.

“It is really amazing to be here,” said Doss, who grew up in Manhattan and now lives in Connecticut. “This used to be my playground and I always loved this store so much, so it’s incredible to see my line here.

”The idea came to life when Doss complained to mother Christy Prunier the products she was using were her younger sister’s and meant for babies. It was either Johnsons & Johnsons or her mother’s cosmetics and not much that really worked in between, said Doss.

“Growing up, my mom would always make us wear sunscreen, but I hated it. It was sticky and white, so the Willa Girl sunscreen feels really good, smells great and I actually like wearing it,” she said.

The all-natural line has caught on with teenagers and Doss herself has been largely responsible for promoting the line, using social media as a way to connect to her customers.

“When we started, my friends and I held focus groups where we had lots of smells to test,” said Doss. “So I consider the line an effort that was

created as much by my friends and family.”

Her favorite products are the basic face wash, the sunscreen, a mask that turns green and cloth face wipes that she uses on the go.

Her advice to her peers: “If you have an idea that you love, stick to it and it will happen if you really work at it.”

Visit willaskincare.com for more information.

13

know that the story is all

about the shoes…!

14

15

17

Dress, Sherri Hill

Dress, Stella M'Lia

Dress, Sherri Hill

The key to a young man or woman dressing cool, age-

appropriate, and with distinction is not an easy task.

While there is a legion of designers catering to brides on

their big day, the choices for 13-year-old girls is limited.

Mazel worked with Best Dressed New York, a new boutique

on Manhattan’s Upper East Side—specializing in designer

looks for teens—to curate a variety of looks that will make

the young woman-to-be feel radiant during her bat mitzvah.

For the boys, it does get easier. An early lesson that will

certainly help them in adulthood: Keep it simple. Nail the fit

and proportions.

Dress, Betsey Johnson

20

Dress, Best Dressed NY

Clothing, Lester’s

22

Clothing, Lester’s

23

25

From left to right

Dress, Elisa B $84

Dress, Hollywood $131

Dress, Lost and Found $84

All from Kids at Heart

Photographed by:

Jamie K Photography

In today’s world, the

intersection between

being dressed up and

casually cool is reaching

a fine blend.

Rugged boots and a

cocktail dress? No

problem. Sneakers and

tie? That combo is

practically the uniform

on the hippest men in

downtown Manhattan.

The key to make

these seemingly incom-

patible elements work

is by sticking to basic

looks on the casual

side of the equation.

It’s enough of a

statement to wear

combat boots. Of

course, when in doubt,

dress like an icon.

Dress, Cheryl

Pants, DKNY

Jacket, Joseph

Abboud $250

Shirt, DKNY $60

Lester’s

Jacket, Joseph Abboud $250

Shirt, DKNY $60

Lester’s

Shirt DKNY

Jacket Joseph Abboud

$145 Lester's

Shirts, DKNY $60

Lester’s

Photographed by: Jamie K Photography

Dress, Stephen Yearick

Shoes, Stuart Weitzman

Earrings, Roni Blanshay

Dress, Versace

Shoes, Pelle Moda

38

This page:

Dress, custom designed by

Lyn Kohls

Shoes, Christian Louboutin

39

It’s not just your kids

special day, it’s yours too. This

is your chance to wear a

fabulous dress that you

probably would walk right

past at Bloomingdales.

Not an off the rack kind of

girl?

Treat yourself to a custom

designed dress that will

ensure that no one is wearing

anything even close to what

you have chosen. The

impeccable fit will give you

confidence and show your

style. Be as gorgeous on the

outside as you feel inside, just

like our real mitzvah moms

photographed in this editorial

shoot.

Whether choosing the always

classic black or putting some

sparkle into your look,

make sure your entire

ensemble strikes a balance.

Basic colors and cut call for

statement jewelry, while a

bold dress that shines speaks

for itself. Of course, spectacular

shoes might be the first place

to start.

Dress, La Feme

Bracelet and earrings, Nadri

Shoes, Enzo Angiolini

Dress, Theia

Shoes, Jimmy Choo

Jewelry, Roni Blanchy

42

43

The candles have been lit.

The montage has been played.

Our shoes are off.

Our socks are on.

And our chariot awaits.