The theme of today's shoot was Alice Margatroid from Touhou Project, set in a vintage-style café adorned with a 'CHERRY APPLE TREE' sign. Rather than the sharpness of manipulating dolls in battle, I have always wanted to present her elegant and calm daily vibe, which is why I chose a lifestyle-inspired yet gorgeously elaborate white tulle gown for this look.
The centerpiece of this styling is the white ruffled bonnet, accented with red ribbons and a delicate string of silver beads that adds rich layers to the headpiece. The orange short hair required great patience to style, ensuring it possessed natural fluffiness and airy volume without looking stiff. The black ribbon bow tie around the neck created a striking contrast with the pure white ensemble, offering a sharp visual contouring effect.
Undoubtedly, the most eye-catching part of the outfit was the voluminous, tiered white tulle skirt. While the layered tulle looks stunning on camera and creates a gorgeous silhouette, sitting down required extra care. Due to the immense volume of the skirt, I had to gather the tulle layers by hand before sitting to avoid unflattering creases. The off-the-shoulder cut also gave the character a light and gracefully charming presence.
The leg styling was equally thoughtful. I picked a pair of White stockings with a diamond mesh texture, finished with delicate lace and bow accents near the cuffs and below the knees. These stockings not only added rich textural details, but also flattered the leg lines smoothly. Grounded by dark brown platform bow shoes, the entire look maintained chromatic harmony. To match the character setting, I carried a vintage tome featuring dark crisscross straps and golden corner protectors, alongside a white teacup—two small props that infused the frame with deeper narrative storytelling.
In terms of posing, we deliberately avoided commercial, rigid postures. In the first shot where I'm drinking coffee, the moment holding the cup and spoon felt completely natural—a focused gaze paired with a relaxed demeanor, making me truly feel immersed in Alice's character. Flipping through the vintage book felt like genuinely studying a grimoire; gently resting my chin on my fingers in a pensive pose matched her intellectual and subtly mysterious nature perfectly.
The photography complemented the theme flawlessly. The deep green diamond-stitched leather sofa and solid wooden round table in the venue provided rich textures and a vintage foundation. Gentle afternoon sunlight poured through the glass window, casting over my face, shoulders, and the voluminous skirt to form dimensional light-and-dark transitions. Reflections of greenery and other café patrons on the glass enriched the off-camera depth, making these photos feel like authentic Café photography documenting a real afternoon tea rather than a staged shoot. During color grading, I preserved these soft, natural tones without over-brightening the dress, allowing the white tulle to remain translucent under the light while keeping the tranquil colors of the surroundings for a film-like serenity.
Having cosplayed many times, I increasingly cherish this state of letting natural emotions emerge from the character's intrinsic temperament and the atmosphere of the scene. This reflects my love for Touhou works and Alice Margatroid, as well as an exploration of my personal cosplay direction. Through this set filled with everyday warmth, I hope everyone can experience a more vivid, approachable, and endearing Alice.