[Azur Lane Cheshire Cosplay] Blue and White Fantasy at May Day Firefly ACG Expo

During May Day, I finished shooting this long-awaited Azur Lane Cheshire Cosplay at Firefly ACG Expo. Over the past couple of days, I exported the photos from the camera and edited them carefully; all the hard work under the sun and wind at the convention evaporated the moment I saw the final photos. Although I've done cosplays in many other styles before, the overall tone of this Cheshire set was truly special—possessing both that light, airy feel unique to Anime-style fashion while retaining the elegant aura belonging to the character. That's why I poured 100% of my energy into the preparation stage.

First, let's discuss the makeup and hair details. To match the overall character feel, I specially selected a wig with a silver-white base and distinct cyan-blue highlights. The length and airy texture of the tips were trimmed and styled by myself bit by bit—rather than keeping the hairstyle rigid, I preserved a touch of fluffiness so it would blend better with the headpiece on camera. For facial makeup, since the light blue and white of the outfit are very clean, I opted for bright, translucent warm-toned eyeshadow paired with orange-red lips, hoping to bring out facial expressiveness without being completely washed out by the cool white outfit. As for the headpiece, that white plush headpiece adorned with ribbons, straps, and silver metallic trinkets was actually quite heavy; wearing it all day at the convention was a genuine test for my neck, but for the sake of visual refinement, I happily endured it.

Next, I must emphasize how fantastic this cosplay costume design is. Intertwining light blue and white with extensive lace patchwork, tulle, and mesh fabrics, it feels amazingly light and ethereal when worn. The upper body features an off-the-shoulder halter cut accented with a neckline bow, perfectly capturing the weightless grace unique to anime characters. The wide belt at the waist visually elongates proportions, enhancing the skirt's layered depth. The sleeves carry the finest details—exaggerated, wide flare sleeves overlaid with multi-tiered tulle trim. When standing still, they drape with a natural hang; once moving, they flutter with lively grace—just like when I raised my arms in the photos—and working together with the photographer felt incredibly smooth.

This convention photoshoot was truly filled with challenges and pleasant surprises. Due to massive crowds at the Firefly ACG Expo over May Day holiday, finding a shooting spot with pleasing light and a relatively clean, open background was extremely tough. We wandered around the venue for a long while before settling on a corridor area with lighter foot traffic. For props, choosing a silver metallic suitcase instead of heavy set decorations turned out to be an extremely wise decision. The sleek, rigid texture of the silver suitcase contrasted beautifully against the soft, flowing tulle of my costume, injecting a touch of modern street-snap style into the scene.

While shooting this set, I tried various poses to express Cheshire's charm: gentle warmth while seated elegantly on the suitcase gazing at the lens, confident aura standing with hands on hips, and a dynamic snapshot perched on the edge of the suitcase with legs extended, raising both arms to pull at my sleeves. Selecting white platform lace-up shoes adorned with small lace ruffles and accessory details complemented the leg-revealing design, elongating leg lines within the composition to add that distinct anime-style stylistic tension. The high-angle shot is another personal favorite—eyes cast down slightly, one hand touching my cheek, sleeves floating up, creating a quiet yet subtly mysterious mood through the lens.

As for the final retouching, to maximize the authentic convention vibe, I avoided overly dramatic filters or special effects, focusing instead on skin tone brightening, white balance correction for costume colors, and moderate background crowd blurring. The lighting on site, especially the side-rim light coming through glass windows, gave my hair and tulle fabric a dreamlike rim light. Achieving these convention photos from Firefly ACG Expo is all thanks to the incredible photographer on site, who carried heavy equipment through the crowd to find angles, holding fast to press the shutter for natural moments even when nearly bumped by tourists. The happiest aspect of being a cosplayer is taking a beloved character into 3D through thorough preparation and seamless teamwork, granting them vivid vitality. This Cheshire costume made a deep impression on me, and given future opportunities, I would love to explore even more shooting styles.