Today's look is the Yin Ziping cheongsam style from NARAKA: BLADEPOINT. The custom costume took quite a while to arrive, but upon unboxing, the craftsmanship proved to be extraordinarily refined. The base fabric is a white jacquard textile with subtle silver interwoven patterns that catch a delicate sheen with movement. The neckline features a classic mandarin stand-up collar with black frog buttons, while the shoulders are designed with exaggerated, tiered ruffle lace; this modified silhouette injects a touch of theatrical anime flair into an otherwise gentle, demure cheongsam. The cutouts along both sides of the waist serve as a visual highlight, bridged by strings of pearl chains. Wearing it demanded absolute caution—because the fabric has zero stretch, the slightest meal would show around the tummy, so I completely cut carbs the day before the shoot.
The wig is a pure white, straight-haired cut with blunt bangs styled into high twintails. Twin buns on the crown were accented with black lace bows and white satin ribbons, finished with cascading long tassels at the tips. When securing the wig, I placed two hair padding inserts inside to prevent the crown from sagging. The bangs fell right above the brows, tickling the eyes slightly, but I endured it for character accuracy. For makeup, reddish-brown tones were washed across the lids, with heavy blush blended beneath the lower eyelids and eyeliner subtly winged upward, paired with a matte bright red lip. The entire face balanced youthful vigor with an aloof, ethereal cool.
For the lower half, I wore a pair of white over-the-knee socks; the biggest fear with White stockings is digging into the thighs or sliding down, so I applied anti-slip skin tape along the upper rims in advance. For footwear, I chose white platform shoes with heels around five to six centimeters—stable on cobblestones, yet undeniably tiring on the feet. The venue was a traditional classical courtyard featuring grey brick walls, bamboo groves, koi ponds, and red-brick pavements. Holding a white lace folding fan, I started with standing shots, but the photographer suggested squatting down, noting it would better accentuate the leg lines and tiered drapery of the skirt. Crouching on the red-brick steps, I locked in my balance, raised the fan halfway across my chest, and gazed directly into the lens. The White stockings, lace fan, white gown, and red bricks created a sharp, brilliant color contrast, yielding breathtaking final images.
Another shot captured me looking back over my shoulder in an alleyway, raising the fan high while reaching the other hand toward adjacent bamboo leaves as the long hair draped naturally. This pose required sustained lumbar engagement, leaving my lower back aching afterward. There was also a full-body composition beside the pond against red-and-white koi swimming below; as a gentle breeze drifted by, the sheer chiffon of the skirt fluttered softly, full of atmosphere.
Preparing for an outdoor shoot—from scouting and verifying lighting angles to designing poses—is always an intense physical endeavor. This Yin Ziping cheongsam preserves her gentle soul while integrating modern modifications. The bold pairing of White stockings and platforms helped bridge the two-dimensional and real worlds. Presenting the fusion of traditional Eastern elegance and modern anime culture through the camera was deeply rewarding. By wrap time, dusk had settled; despite the fatigue, seeing the camera previews confirmed that every preparation was completely worthwhile.