When I got my hands on Aozaki Aoko's new FGO 10th Anniversary outfit design, I felt it simply had to be documented. Compared with Koyama-sensei's classic original art from Witch on the Holy Night in the past, although the current art style reflects a clear sense of changing eras in its detailed line work, as a loyal fan of the character, I still have endless affection for this brand-new design. The overall blue-and-white color scheme is very refreshing, and wearing that wide-brimmed dark blue velvet pointed hat instantly brings out the character's unique ambiance.
To recreate this outfit as closely as possible, I put quite a bit of thought into selecting the wig and contact lenses. I chose a dark reddish-brown wig with neat straight bangs, which makes me look very sharp. For contact lenses, I chose a bright lake-blue matching the character's, which immediately heightened the focus in my eyes. The top's design is very clever; the primary white color is paired with cutout shoulder tailoring and blue ribbon tie accents on both sides, adding layers of design to the outfit. The large golden double-ring ornament on the chest serves as the soul of the whole look—its jewelry texture is fantastic, offering great reflections under indoor lighting.
This Casual cosplay shoot actually didn't use complicated lighting or studio backdrops; it was shot simply in front of a white wall and closet doors at home. I believe cosplay doesn't always have to take place in grand settings; sometimes a clean, simple background highlights the details of the costume and person even better. For the first picture, I used some sparkling post-processing filter effects to add a touch of dreaminess and playfulness, fitting her slightly playful and confident personality. The following photos present a relatively unedited perspective to showcase the authentic texture of the outfit. Selfies from different angles, including low and high angles, as well as moments of winking and making gestures, were captured to reflect her relaxed and cheerful state.
Why was I smiling so happily? Anyone familiar with Fate/Grand Order will probably understand the joy. When this version was first released, my very first double SSR pull in the gacha was none other than Aozaki Aoko! I never expected my luck to explode like that. Seeing the summon screen in that instant brought a mixture of surprise and delight; it was really hard to hold back a rising smile from such unexpected good luck. So when shooting this set, that genuine smile didn't need to be forced at all. Every time I look at these photos, I remember the pure excitement and joy brought by that gacha pull, instantly boosting my mood.
I also have huge expectations for the upcoming BGO FES 10th Anniversary offline event. If my schedule and conditions allow, I really hope to wear this Aozaki Aoko cosplay outfit to the venue to have fun; this kind of immersive offline experience is a precious moment for fans. I've done some homework in advance, hoping to take photos with a stronger event atmosphere and narrative feel. For portraying such classic anime characters, I feel what matters most alongside costume and prop accuracy is conveying expressions and emotions. She is a magician who carries a hint of pride without losing her enthusiasm, so it's best to maintain a touch of mystery when not smiling, while making smiles genuine and bright—this contrast is precisely what makes her so attractive.
Returning to the outfit itself, the fabric selection and tailoring are quite nice, especially the paneling around the waist and chest. Black lace trimming creates a smooth transition at the border of blue and white, while golden fan-shaped embroidery on the waist gives the whole look a blend of vintage magician style and modern fashion. Wearing this outfit to the event should make me stand out in the venue. Although maintaining props and wigs in Casual cosplay routines takes time and effort, every bit of preparation is worth it to leave a complete visual record for a character and work I love. I hope the Fate/Grand Order series continues for a long time, bringing everyone more wonderful memories and surprises.