The performance contract for New Eridu is ready. The moment the shutter clicked in front of the lens, I evaluated the overall completeness of this costume while imagining what it would be like standing on the Zenless Zone Zero Fes stage. Ellen Joe's design inherently carries a casual yet sharp demeanor, so when designing this Cosplay outfit, the focus was on faithfully recreating that captivating aura through details.
Looking first at the upper body tailoring, this black sleeveless vest top is made from fabric with great drape; the metal zipper down the center serves not only as a visual centerpiece but also keeps it convenient to put on and take off. The white ruffled stitching at the collar and that vivid red bowtie add rich layers to what would otherwise be a solid black base, preventing it from looking flat under lighting. The stitched white ruffle trim falls gracefully across both shoulders, giving the character's silhouette more three-dimensional definition. My favorite part, however, is the asymmetrical sleeve design: a fully extended black fingerless arm sleeve on the right hand, and a short red-and-black striped sleeve cuff on the left. This visually striking combination fits the iconic first impression of Ellen Joe, blending street fashion edge with combat-ready crispness.
Moving downward, the highlight of this outfit lies in the waist structure. The wide black leather corset serves as the skeleton of the entire look; its three-tier metallic eyelet lace-up design, paired with square metallic buckle clasps, elevates the garment's texture while keeping my posture upright as I walk. Connected below the corset is a band of grayish-black ruffled pleats, breaking up the uniformity of the black vertically-striped flare skirt on the bottom. This tight-top and flared-bottom visual flow not only elongates lower-body proportions but also brings rich depth to the black-and-white base palette. During the shoot, I chose a natural standing pose, turning slightly to let the light trace the contours of the waistline and sleeves, capturing an effortless relaxed vibe that closely mirrors the character's disposition.
Regarding facial details, to align with the character's visual features, I specifically wore Red colored contacts. Choosing red lenses instantly infused the gaze with a sharp, deep focus, which, combined with the small black dot beauty mark beneath the eyelid, enhanced unique detail recognition. During shooting, I also considered how to optimize the look via bangs and hair accessories. The subtle red highlights peeking through the black hair are faintly visible under warm indoor lighting; accessorized with crisscross silver metallic hair clips, it maintains the rebellious spirit of the original design without visually stealing the show.
The first photo was taken as a front-facing handheld selfie, an angle best suited for showcasing the full silhouette of the garment's tailoring. The wooden beams, white walls, and warm pendant lights in the background collide with this black, white, and red outfit to create an ambiance where everyday reality blends with the 2D world. The second mirror selfie focuses more on capturing a slice-of-life dynamic feel: a casual hand gesture paired with the phone partially covering the face. Such candid snapshots often convey the character's current state of mind far better than rigid posed photos. Whenever attending offline events like the Zenless Zone Zero Anime convention festival, what matters most is not only outfit fidelity, but also preserving these vivid, life-filled moments through the lens.
To channel Ellen Joe's signature lazy yet completely effortless demeanor for the event, I kept my movements and expressions as relaxed as possible rather than chasing rigid modeling poses. The outfit itself already provides plenty of visual tension; standing under the right light naturally brings out the intended character atmosphere. This costume has substantial physical weight—especially with the wide belt and skirt design requiring controlled posture while walking—yet the resulting silhouette is exceptionally flattering, combining with the footwear to create a well-balanced proportion. I hope Ellen Joe's band application garners plenty of attention at the Zenless Zone Zero Fes venue, letting me convey my understanding and passion for this character on the stage of New Eridu through this outfit.