This white qipao look for Ajitani Hifumi from Blue Archive had been brewing in my mind for a long time, and last month I finally found the time to bring this studio photoshoot plan to life. Although this was an attempt to be the very first across the web to shoot this specific look, the preparatory work was far more complex than imagined.
For the costume, selecting the fabric for the white qipao was crucial—it needed great drape without being too heavy, which could easily look bulky when standing on an elevated platform. The chest patterns and collar pleat details were adjusted back and forth with the tailor several times to stay as close as possible to the airy, lightweight feel of the original illustration. The golden halo on my head was custom-made from acrylic. To achieve that floating, weightless effect seen in the artwork, securing it took plenty of thought so that it stayed firmly attached to my head without giving away the trick on camera.
Regarding the wig, I initially thought this light blonde hairstyle with double side buns would be easy to handle, but balancing smoothness with volume proved quite challenging. To give the pigtails and buns that fluffy yet neat shape from the illustration, I used plenty of hair wax and setting spray throughout the styling process. Comparing it with the original illustration on the right side of the collage, I feel that under proper indoor studio lighting, the hair texture and fidelity turned out quite satisfying.
The shooting environment on the day is just as shown in the photos; I chose a studio decorated with Chinese-style wooden archways, rockeries, and flowers. The stitched illustration on the right features a snowy scene with a snowman and a shovel. Although our studio shoot didn't have real snow, I specifically asked the lighting technician for warm-toned ambient lighting, hoping to capture the elegance of this black-and-white pairing in a classic Chinese setting. Whether it was the crane props or the black circular podium underfoot, everything added storytelling depth to the frame.
During the shoot, to best recreate the playful posture from the illustration—slightly bending over while gently lifting the skirt hem—I had to constantly balance my center of gravity on that circular platform in white chunky high heels. I needed to keep my lower body steady while pinching the long rear hem of the white qipao with my fingers to create a graceful fold in the air. In this photo set, I paid special attention to the texture of the Black stockings. Black stockings paired with white high heels are a timeless visual combo, and with the transition from the inner safety shorts, the leg lines appeared even more slender and elongated in front of the lens. The photographer's lighting was highly professional, capturing subtle sheen on the stockings while beautifully accentuating the pristine white texture of the qipao.
It has indeed been a month since the shoot. Selecting and editing photos took quite a while, and combined with a bit of recent procrastination, I held off on posting. Looking through these photos again, I'm still amazed by how great this look turned out on camera. This attempt wasn't just a simple dress-up; it was about using real photography to capture the unique charm of an anime character in a real-world setting. From the luster of the hair strands to the fabric textures under the lights, every detail strives to embody the feeling where 2D steps into reality. Although a few details could be refined in post-production, this set has fully achieved the texture and atmosphere I envisioned.