[Ellen cosplay] Live recreation of Zenless Zone Zero's Victoria Housekeeping

The Victoria Housekeeping Ellen cosplay from Zenless Zone Zero—this set of photos from BW2024 is finally retouched and posted. Although it was indeed delayed until after ChinaJoy ended, between post-processing fine-tuning and post-convention exhaustion, this set of photos only just managed to meet everyone smoothly. On the day of the shoot, the crowd at the BW venue was quite dense; fully geared up from head to toe in this black-and-white modified Maid outfit cosplay, it really tested how neat and tidy the outfit could stay.

Let's talk about the costume first. The overall look follows a classic black-and-white palette but incorporates plenty of industrial-punk elements. The white ruffled headpiece at the top of the head features a ring of gray zigzag sawtooth trim, which, paired with the gray metallic-textured zigzag choker around the neck, gives the entire image an undeniable aggressiveness amidst elegance. The black top has leather straps and silver rivets, paired with white fluffy puff sleeves that not only provide a crisp structure but also leave enough room for shoulder movement. The zigzag bracers on the wrists and the white lace details also echo the overall design wonderfully. For the hair, the black blunt bangs along with the orange-red highlighted tips create a very clear visual focus against the overhead lighting and dark background.

Next is the fidelity of the props. The EXIT sign held in my right hand has a minimalist yet recognizable design. What impressed me most was the giant scythe weapon in my left hand; not only does it have a massive silver curved blade, but you can also see the black mechanical piping structure in the middle and striking orange ring accents. This weapon carries a very solid weight, and having to maintain that pose throughout the shoot was a real test of arm strength. So the understated, aloof, and lazy expression you see in the photos was actually me trying hard to stabilize my center of gravity so the weapon wouldn't look heavy.

On the day of the shoot, photographer @HalfAnOrange🍊 grasped the lighting and angles impeccably. Thanks to the use of a dark background, the entire frame maintained a suspenseful, cool tone, creating a fantastic chemical reaction with the stern look in my eyes. This style of photography fits the artistic atmosphere of Zenless Zone Zero itself very well.

For the standing and sitting poses in the photos, I also tried hard to get close to the character's usual careless yet slightly tsundere vibe. The iconic action of holding a lollipop in the mouth, along with the display of slender legs accentuated by the miniskirt and high heels, all strive to restore that elegant yet maverick temperament. Although the convention was packed and bumping into things while moving around was inevitable, entering the character's state with that attitude felt quite immersive.

As a work leaning toward practical combat and stylized design, cosplaying Ellen this time was a bittersweet experience. The metallic texture of the weapon is very appealing, but frequently lifting and holding it indeed placed a burden on my shoulders; the zigzag headpiece looks great, but it also adds some weight. However, seeing the finished Convention photos with strong personal style and character nuance made all the effort spent on costumes and props feel worthwhile. After all, the meaning of cosplay lies in bringing 2D characters into the real world, and this time, with a housekeeping service mindset, I brought a distinct cool-toned glow to the convention scene.