Convention photos from Day 2 of the Firefly ACG Expo! This unreleased concept styling for Cheshire from Azur Lane was finally finished and debuted that day. Regarding this unused concept design, I reviewed many original concept artworks before settling on this primarily blue-and-white color palette. Compared to the official classic version, this light-toned palette feels much cooler for summer and brings out a dreamy atmosphere.
The construction of the dress is far more complex than it appears. The voluminous skirt relies on multiple internal layers of tulle and a metal-boned petticoat for structure. The outer shell is semi-sheer light blue tulle, layered over multiple white linings and deep blue tulle strips—layers that reveal stunning gradients of light and shadow under bright sunlight. Moreover, the dress features numerous delicate string ties that took considerable time to adjust to achieve the ideal natural drape. Walking around the convention floor, the skirt fluttered gently with the breeze, radiating an airy liveliness.
To match this unreleased concept look, I wore a wide-brimmed white sun hat adorned with lace, faux flowers, and slender white ribbons. Holding a bouquet of white silk flowers as a prop added softness to my hand poses. The wig is a short, cool-toned silver-blue bob, paired with light blue contact lenses to harmonize the entire look. While the official character design features feline traits, my styling emphasized that "cuteness is an aura," going beyond surface-level imitation. Once worn, the overall vibe aligned seamlessly with the character's light, agile presence.
It was a clear, sunny day during the shoot, with abundant outdoor light. Harsh sunlight hitting the light-toned fabric clearly showcased the texture and layering. Strong shadows cast across the lawn added great three-dimensionality, preventing washed-out flatness from high exposure. The photo editing avoided exaggerated filters, mostly retaining a cool color temperature to make the blue-and-white palette look clean and translucent. Under this lighting, my white lace-trimmed thigh-high stockings (white tights convention photo) formed a distinct visual dividing line against the hemline, enhancing the strong dimensional layering along with the hoop skirt structure.
At the convention venue, this outfit was an eye-catcher. Navigating through crowds with such a wide hoop skirt required extra caution to avoid catching on backpacks or booth setups. However, I tried to move toward grassy open areas for solo convention photos, allowing the dress to fan out fully without worrying about dirtying the white stockings. Throughout the day, I exchanged garment-crafting tips with fellow cosplayers and discussed the hurdles of bringing "unreleased concept designs" into physical reality. As a cosplayer, turning a beloved character design into tangible reality is a deeply rewarding experience in casual cosplay. Although sewing and adjusting the boned panniers was exhausting, all fatigue vanished the moment the final photos arrived. While this unused concept look isn't as widely known as the official version, it was a very special endeavor, and I'm thrilled to have captured these memories at the Firefly ACG Expo.