On Day 1 of the Guangzhou CPSP Anime Convention, I wore this modernized Cheongsam cosplay of Cheshire from Azur Lane. The overall palette is dominated by red and white. The headwear features a white lace base adorned with two large red peonies and red tassels, while the wig is my favorite grey-purple short bob with teal highlights at the tips—this contrasting color scheme nicely accentuates the character's liveliness. The chest area combines a halter neck with white collar trim, complemented by golden frog buttons and a keyhole cutout, with a black lining and gold patterns underneath for rich layering. The most substantial piece is this white faux-fur shawl; although the fabric is incredibly fluffy and photogenic, walking around in the southern convention temperature definitely felt warm and stuffy.
In this styling, the biggest eye-catcher is arguably the high-slit design of the skirt. I paired it with over-the-knee white lace stockings and red high heels, which not only showcase the flowing lines of the garment but also convey a touch of the character's playfulness. Wearing a sleeveless, high-slit outfit places high demands on posture and poise; keeping the spine straight is essential to support the garment's structure, leaving shoulder and leg muscles tense throughout the day. However, standing beside the balcony railing for this shoot, the soft natural light beautifully brought out the jacquard weave and golden embroidery on the red cheongsam. The distant city skyline and greenery in the background created a wonderfully pleasing visual contrast with the vibrant dress.
The convention atmosphere was buzzing, and many passing attendees and photographers recognized this look as Cheshire from Azur Lane. I also joined in on the cute meme mentioned in the post, playfully making a fist and throwing a punch with a cheeky expression for the camera. The photographer was very professional, capturing the moment in photo 2 where I held the white faux-fur shawl in hand, perfectly accentuating the garment's symmetry and the high-slit profile. With numerous accessories—hat, hairpieces, and shawl needing constant adjustment to avoid getting messy in the crowd—cosplaying for an entire day is certainly physically demanding.
Even though walking around all day in high heels left my feet completely exhausted, connecting with everyone at an offline event and sharing a carefully prepared outfit is a truly joyful experience in itself. The photographer returned some preview photos quickly, retaining the clear, natural daylight feel. Skin tones and the red-and-white color contrast of the costume were faithfully rendered without over-smoothing, preserving the authentic convention texture. Shooting in an outdoor space tests a photographer's control over natural light far more than an indoor studio set, but fortunately the lighting conditions were fantastic, giving me a clearer appreciation of the cheongsam's texture on camera.
The fabric selection and edge piping of this cheongsam were thoughtfully executed. The chest cutout and neck bow tie build upon the original character design while adding refined touches of modernized Eastern apparel. When deciding to cosplay this character, my biggest worry was balancing the fur shawl with the skirt slit, but walking in it revealed that the wide shawl nicely offset the visual open space on the upper body created by the high slit. The entire outfit balances 2D anime charm with flattering bodily lines. As my first outfit for Day 1 of the Guangzhou CPSP Anime Convention, it brought many challenges, but seeing the final photos made all the hustle with hair, makeup, and adjustments completely worthwhile.