Shot in moody black and white, cigarette dangling between her fingers, Cristin Milioti channels pure cinematic cool on the cover of CULTURED's Art & Film issue—like a femme fatale who knows exactly how this story ends. Draped in head-to-toe Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, the actor popped onto set with photographer Chris Colls and stylist George Cortina just weeks before winning the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her role in HBO Max's The Penguin.
Last night, a coterie of film, art, and fashion insiders joined the rising star for a soirée in celebration of the issue launch, hosted by CULTURED Editor-in-Chief Sarah Harrelson and eBay, which premiered its first ever pre-loved, shoppable fashion shows during New York and London fashion weeks last September. The intimate, impeccably curated cocktail took place at Quarters in Lower Manhattan with guests including actor Cory Michael Smith, also featured in the issue; writer Liana Satenstein, who has been a frequent collaborator with eBay on their pre-loved fashion initiatives; musician Kilo Kish; fashion commentator Nicky Campbell; chef Rōze Traore; advisor and CULTURED columnist Ralph DeLuca; photographer Zora Sicher; actors Delaney Rowe, Larsen Thompson, Juliana Aidén Martinez, and Tavi Gevinson; model Yvesmark Chery; artists Lucy Bull and Miles Greenberg; gallerist Rachel Uffner; and fashion designers Jackson Wiederhoeft, Tanner Richie, and Fletcher Kasell.
The space, a masterclass in sultry minimalism, was conceived by In Common With founders Felicia Hung and Nick Ozemba. Musk lingered in the air, amorphous lamp lighting danced against richly painted walls, and cocktails embraced the decadence with notes of chai, walnut, and warm spice. Guests huddled on velvet-clad furniture, trading fashion week war stories and many still wearing their Thom Browne duds from the latest show. Outside, a February snowstorm tried (and failed) to crash the party, but inside, the night pulsed with conversation, sharp tailoring, and overflowing prosecco.
“This too shall pass,” noted Milioti in her cover story, as a favorite tidbit of acting advice. It's true, though, that moments like these are fleeting: the perfect night, and a cover worth remembering.
