Rodeo Drive, Melrose, Beverly Hills, they’re all right there, and after a while, it becomes part of the background. You walk past designer windows and celebrity-frequented shops without thinking much about it. But when BTS is involved, suddenly everything feels different, electric, personal.

In January 2023, the same week SUGA was in Los Angeles for his Valentino photoshoot and appearance at the Lakers game, I made a little pilgrimage of my own. I went to Maxfield, the iconic boutique in West Hollywood, to see the Valentino display featuring the exact pieces he wore, the same outfits from his Paris Fashion Week appearance, the photoshoot, and other official events.

Walking into Maxfield felt almost reverent that day. But it was special knowing that these exact garments were the same pieces worn by SUGA. I did what any excited fan would do, I tried to take a few photos. But before I could get more than one or two, a security guard told me that photography wasn’t allowed. I hadn’t seen any signs, and though I felt a little embarrassed, I couldn’t stop smiling. Those pieces were part of a story, his story, and in a small way, mine too.

SUGA’s Valentino Di.Vas 2023 was such a proud moment. As I walked out of Maxfield, I felt grateful to live in a city where these little intersections between art, fashion, and music can happen, and to be part of a fandom that finds meaning in moments like this.