London’s glitterati descended on The Maine, Mayfair, to kick off CultedXO on Sunday evening. The event saw the venue rendered unrecognisable, strewn in pink ferns, a mirrored DJ booth, a luxe velvet photo wall, and a (lickable, as guests proved) ice sculpture meticulously carved in the shape of the Cultedxo logo.
CultedXO is a digital media channel designed for a non-cis/het male audience: a platform established not only to keep netizens abreast of the latest industry and culture news, but also to foster a real community. We’re hyper-aware that creative people – from makeup artists to designers – are navigating an increasingly precarious industry right now, amid the flattening of culture at the hands of algorithms, limited funding and budgets, and the rapid rise of AI. CultedXO offers the speed and insight you’ve grown to rely on at Culted, with a femme spin and a focus on peer support.
It’s been in the works for over a year, but was officially launched in November with a digital cover and a short film starring and creative-directed by rapper JT. “Being the creative director of the cover and short film gave me a taste of the creative boss I know I can be,” she told us.
The night kicked off with a set by jazz artist Tara Lilly, before DJ Manuka Honey took to the decks to get everyone up and dancing to an electric mix of pop and R&B. The vibes were high as the drinks were generously supplied by Don Julio, Ciroq, and Moet, keeping guests swimming in a sea of champagne and cocktails. The menu consisted of impossibly creamy mushroom pasta, fries and mini cheesecake bites. As the night came to a close, guests were gifted goodie bags brimming with beauty products from Refy, Nars, and Amika.
“CultedXO means internet culture in a girly, fun, memey kind of way,” said Anastasia Vartanian on the night. “CultedXO means breaking the rules,” remarked Spanish makeup artist Dido.
Featured image by @sirius.film for CultedXO©
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