Beloved street style photographer Bill Cunningham once said that “fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” With that saying always in my back pocket, I watched Japanese designer Teppei Fujita’s latest collection for his brand Sulvam expecting to be shaken up by his looks.

What I didn’t expect was that the Nina who sat down for the Sulvam Fall 2017 show would not be the same woman who got up immediately after it. I was changed, exhilarated, inspired and in love.