As the last light of the spring equinox settled over Los Angeles last week, Cult Gaia founder Jasmin Larian opened the doors of her historic Beverly Hills home—a property that once belonged to Elvis Presley—to mark Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
The holiday is equal parts ancient ritual and an excuse to celebrate—a moment to reset, gather your favorite people, and eat very well. For Larian, it has become one of the most anticipated nights on her social calendar. “This is our third or fourth year hosting,” she told Vogue, moving between friends, family, and new faces. “I’m so excited to share my culture with everyone.”
Guests including Shanina Shaik, Sara Sampaio, Sarah Shahi, Aurora James, Mimi Cutrell, Ryan Destiny, Chelsea Neman Nassib, and Noor Pahlavi—eldest daughter of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran—arrived dressed in Cult Gaia’s Spring ready-to-wear pieces. They were welcomed by the sounds of a sitar player performing Persian classical music, the notes drifting across the koi pond that wraps around a Japanese-style teahouse at the heart of the property.
This year brought a few new touches to Larian’s tradition: an all-yellow floral scheme, goldfish drifting beneath glass-topped tables, and a soundtrack by Shirzan (Lioness) from Cult Gaia’s debut NYFW show last month that set the mood for the impending feast.
The menu opened with caviar, served in custom tins stamped with the words Gaia Caviar, alongside sumac-dusted potato chips and saffron crème fraîche, followed by a Shirazi take on a panzanella—with pomegranate seeds, walnuts, and shards of crispy Barbari bread standing in for the Italian original. The main spread was pure Persian abundance: a traditional sabzi platter, two variations of tahdig, and plates of lamb, chicken, and beef. “I switched it up a little bit,” Larian explained, taking in the tablescape. “I still have a special caviar, but with new artwork and the goldfish swimming inside the glass tables—but I’ve done less. I’ve toned it down a bit.” (The vibrant room told a different story entirely.)
As the sun set, shots began to circulate. And the soundtrack shifted decisively: Erfan Tahmasbi’s Gelooband gave way to Sandy’s Dokhtare Ahvazi. Chairs were pushed back, hair was let down, and the dinner turned into a dance party as soon as the jewel-like, arak-soaked barberry tarts appeared. “We are just feeling more hopeful and joyful,” Larian said over all the noise and the laughter.