The finished photos of this Cheshire New Year cheongsam cosplay, shot in a Xiamen studio, are finally here. From commissioning this outfit to the actual shoot, pre-production took about half a month. Because I wanted to finish the photos before the convention, I stayed in continuous contact with the tailor to fine-tune every detail, and the final look turned out wonderfully satisfying.
First, let's talk about the garment design. It is an adapted cheongsam in a red-and-white palette, modified to align closely with anime aesthetics while staying faithful to the character. The collar is a white mandarin collar fastened with golden frog buttons, accented by a teardrop cutout across the chest. My favorite feature is the golden dragon embroidery along the front—the stitching is exceptionally dense, catching the studio lights with an exquisite metallic sheen. The pairing of gold threads over a crimson base instantly pushed the New Year's festive ambiance to its peak. The white plush shawl layered over top was an essential crowning touch: in canon, Cheshire is all about that fluffy, soft, and cuddly persona, and this shawl brought that charming cuteness to life in three dimensions.
For hair and makeup, to match the original design, I wore a short blue-grey gradient wig, trimming the bangs right to eyebrow level. For makeup, I emphasized the eyes with bright blue contact lenses, creating a crystalline, luminous gaze on camera.
Regarding props, I prepared a red scroll inscribed with calligraphy reading 'Prosperity in the New Year.' Holding it in hand during the shoot alongside expressive smiles truly brought out that celebratory 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' warmth. For the lower half, I paired white lace-trimmed shorts with white garter-style over-the-knee stockings. To match the overall texture of the wardrobe, I chose black platform Mary Janes, where the ankle buckle details introduced dimensional layering against the cheongsam's high slits.
On the day of the shoot, the studio was on the cooler side, but fortunately the plush shawl provided cozy warmth. The first set of poses focused on sitting on a stool. Because of the high-slit design, seated postures required deliberate care—both to highlight the garment's curves and to ensure movements felt effortless and relaxed. I tried crossing one leg lightly over the other with my arms resting naturally, repeatedly adjusting the angle of the scroll. Moving to standing poses for the second set, my body language felt much more expansive—raising the scroll in one hand, lightly lifting the other outward, crossing my legs with weight shifted slightly back to visually elongate my silhouette. Opting for platform shoes kept prolonged standing comfortable, though maintaining an engaged core and an upright chest was a constant priority.
Throughout the session, the photographer guided me to channel Cheshire's bubbly, mischievous gaze. Under the studio's tungsten strobes, the blue-grey gradient wig displayed rich color gradations, needing only subtle contrast boosts in post-processing. Because this set was planned as a New Year greeting card, we kept the props and background minimal, relying on the colors of the outfit and the golden embroidery to carry the visual weight. The white plush elements and red fabrics formed a stark, vibrant contrast against the grey cyclorama, locking all visual focus onto the character.
The entire studio shoot progressed smoothly, with pose adjustments and lighting setups falling into place without hassle. I personally adore the craftsmanship of this costume—from the dragon embroidery to the frog buttons, every nuance holds up impeccably under close-up inspection. I hope this brings a touch of New Year good fortune to everyone who loves Azur Lane and Cheshire.