[Cheshire Cosplay] Azur Lane, the elegant presentation of a blue-and-white modified cheongsam and a vintage garden

This time, the modified cheongsam look of Cheshire from Azur Lane was selected for the photoshoot. Specific considerations were made for everything from makeup and hair to scene setup. For the wig, we retained the character's classic blunt bangs and gray base color, and deliberately added bright cyan highlights at the ends and bangs. Paired with blue-gray contact lenses, this created a gaze texture somewhere between playful and quiet. The base makeup chose a lightweight matte texture to echo the softness of the costume.

Regarding the costume, this light silver-blue cheongsam was modified based on the original Chinese-style mandarin collar. Teardrop-shaped cutouts were integrated at the neckline and both sides of the waist, embellished with golden metal chains and small ornaments to break the monotony of the solid color. To enhance the warmth of early spring, a white plush shawl was matched at the shoulders. The head was equipped with a finely crafted white large ruffle bonnet, and the draped blue ribbons formed a unified color scheme with the hair color. Fixing the hair took quite some effort; the thick wig had to be hidden under the wide brim, and ultimately multiple invisible hairpins were used to make it fit steadily on top of the head. Once worn, turning the head was also very natural without looking bulky.

The lower half coordination aimed to present a more lightweight visual effect, thus selecting white garter stockings paired with transparent sheer silk. The white thick-soled high-heeled lace-up shoes on her feet could effectively elongate the leg proportions visually, while the tie design also enhanced the vintage elegance. Although the heel height of these shoes is considerable, because of the thick platform base, stepping on the wooden floor to move around and strike various sitting poses was extremely stable, with absolutely no worry that an unstable center of gravity would affect the power application of the hips.

To complement the color palette of this costume, we arranged a scene leaning toward a classical European garden. A large cluster of colorful faux bouquets was piled on the left and right sides; the left side leaned toward a cold tone, while the right side leaned toward a warm tone, utilizing the color contrast to increase the tension of the image. A white vintage Roman column and a few hardcover books were added to the bottom left and front of the frame. The weightiness of the books and the three-dimensionality of the Roman column nicely balanced the softness brought by the flowers. A wooden side table placed at the back also featured a multi-tiered dessert stand holding macarons, further reinforcing the sense of an afternoon tea lifestyle scene.

During the shooting process, languid and relaxed postures were mainly guided, such as crossing knees and resting one hand on the edge of the chair. For this composition, I preferred a close-up perspective, which could beautifully showcase the creases of the skirt hem and the gold ornaments on the chest. Combined with the extension feel of the legs, it gives the frame more room to extend. Regarding photography, an overall soft diffuse reflection light was adopted, making the character's skin texture appear delicate. A warm-colored ambient light was also specially prepared on site to shine toward the background curtains and carpet, increasing the layers of environmental light. The post-processing did not overly alter the original color palette; it mainly softened the highlights and suppressed the shadows, allowing the entire frame to maintain a soft-focus cream texture, making the fairy tale atmosphere a bit richer.

The light silver-blue fabric shimmered with a subtle pearl luster under the lights. Combined with the draped white lace tulle curtains and the soft, large plush shawl, the overall blue-and-white color scheme looked very clean. Trying this kind of cutout cheongsam styling for the first time, it could beautifully display the character's body curves in a sitting posture without appearing overly exposed, but rather a generous and proper elegance. The overall posing idea didn't deliberately chase flashy movements, but instead hoped to transmit that languid atmosphere in the afternoon garden through this quiet, sitting static posture. The final photo results of this preview currently look quite tasteful, and the texture of the apparel and its fit with the scene have both reached the expected goals.