[Cheshire Cosplay] New Year's Red in Azur Lane: How Would You Rate This Kitty's New Year Greeting Pose?

The first photo set of the New Year must be vibrant and festive, and I finally got to do the long-awaited Cheshire New Year project. Before shooting this Cheshire New Year shoot, the makeup artist and I repeatedly discussed the color tones, because New Year's red is not just a background backdrop, but a concrete expression of Cheshire's enthusiasm and vitality. For the costume, we chose a red robe with gold embroidery paired with a white plush shawl this time, which retains Cheshire's iconic catgirl elements from Azur Lane while incorporating a delightful Chinese style New Year feel.

For the makeup, I deliberately elongated the eyeliner, paired with bright blue contact lenses and a wig with a grayish-blue gradient, hoping to portray a lively yet slightly tsundere kitty. The shoot took place in a pre-set Chinese-style studio decorated with large red paper-cuts, a majestic lion dance head, and festive gold ingots. These props added so much value—holding them immediately brought back that feeling of visiting relatives and delivering New Year greetings.

In the first set of poses, I sat on a high stool holding a red umbrella. The umbrella was actually quite heavy, requiring me to balance it with one hand while finding the right angle to show off body curves and long legs without making the prop look stiff. The combination of a plush shawl and white stockings portrait really tests texture, but fortunately, the light and shadows in the final photos were very soft, and the red light reflecting on the skin gave a healthy, vibrant complexion.

Later in the studio shoot, we utilized the embroidered ball and lion head, trying poses sitting cross-legged on the floor or lying on our side. How could a kitty not play with a ball? Interacting with that colorful plush embroidered ball made me feel a relaxing sense of returning to the Azur Lane port. Of course, the most crucial fidelity in cosplay lies not just in the clothes, but in the eyes. During the shoot, I tried to keep my gaze relaxed, as if actually sharing festive joy with the Commander or friends during New Year.

As the shoot went on, I picked up a skewer of red candied haws as a prop. That skewer really brought back memories of childhood New Year; taking a bite while holding it made my emotions instantly more natural. In the final set holding the large gold ingot, if you look closely, the ingot's reflection cast a warm yellow glow on my face, maxing out the atmosphere. The photographer knew exactly how to capture this lazy, relaxed state, filling the entire studio with a Catgirl New Year vibe that shines red from beginning to end.

Actually, throughout the entire cosplay process, the hardest part was not posing, but managing the combination of a short skirt and white stockings to show the catgirl's playful and cute vibe while avoiding wardrobe malfunctions. Standing, sitting, lying, leaning—every posture required adjusting the center of gravity multiple times. For example, in the shot holding the red umbrella, because the umbrella canopy was huge, facing the camera head-on would block my face, so turning slightly sideways and adjusting my shoulder angles was essential. This allowed the red umbrella to be not just a prop, but a part of the whole composition, enveloping the character in a red atmosphere. After finishing this Cheshire cosplay shoot, I truly understood why people say wearing red for New Year makes you feel more confident. Although a full day of shooting was exhausting and the wig gave me a headache, seeing the vibrant red photos in the camera made me feel that this New Year spirit was successfully conveyed. I hope this share lets everyone experience a unique Catgirl New Year vibe.