Today inside the venue of ACC Zhengzhou, I brought out this orange-themed look for Da Qiao cosplay. The moment I entered the venue, I started scouting for proper lighting because this costume's colors are highly saturated, which can easily look dull if the light is poor. First, let's talk about the costume design: the skirt is a bright orange-to-red gradient miniskirt with multi-layered pleated folding along the hemline; to support that buoyant flared arc, a stiff petticoat was added inside. The most eye-catching feature is definitely the sleeves—starting from the shoulder seams, they are wide water sleeves crafted from featherlight semi-sheer tulle, with colors smoothly transitioning from orange to pale yellow. The fabric is so airy that even the slightest movement makes the sleeves billow completely; however, because it's so light, any breeze or clumsy movement blows it right onto my face, requiring constant manual adjustments during shooting.
The upper body also has numerous intricate details. The large gold-trimmed heart on the chest serves as the visual centerpiece, with its embedded blue gemstone reflecting brilliantly under overhead hall lights. A golden choker rests at my neck, flanked by golden pauldrons on both shoulders; to faithfully recreate that metallic sheen, the gold paint finish was worked on for a long time. The wig was chosen in a reddish-brown shade; that signature ahoge on top took multiple rounds of hairspray styling to stay upright, while the thick braid in the back features a small illuminated pendant at the tip that flickers gently with every step. For makeup, to complement the warm color palette of the outfit, both eyeshadow and blush were selected in orange-red tones, lending an overall lively and radiant vibe to this Roleplay portrayal.
The shooting process was actually much more tiring than anticipated. Overhead lighting at conventions is notoriously messy, casting harsh shadows across the face, so the photographer set up a softbox in a relatively open corner. The first shot—standing with arms outstretched—looks effortless, but in reality, it heavily tested my core strength. Balancing on the platforms of clear high heels, my legs had to stay locked straight while managing my facial expressions, taking several attempts to catch the exact moment when the sleeves billowed into their optimal spread. The second shot was taken sitting on a white plush blanket laid on the floor. This seated pose required adjusting the angle of my shoulders, and we tested several variations of raised hand gestures; to let the skirt fan out naturally, I shifted my leg positioning multiple times to better showcase the garment's silhouette and leg contours. Because the venue floor had some reflections, we also had to stay vigilant to avoid cluttered crowds and equipment in the background.
Every time you shoot Convention photos on site, it's a battle of wits against lighting and terrain. Clear high heels look stunning on camera, but walking in them on concrete floors for long stretches truly aches. Nevertheless, the fabric textures and vibrant colors of this Traditional Chinese style cosplay outfit truly shine in dark exhibition halls. The translucency of the tulle relies heavily on utilizing the venue's lighting angles; once you find the right angle, it produces a remarkably luminous effect. From grooming hair and makeup to calibrating movements, the entire process demanded full focus. Seeing the final results on the camera monitor made the endless repositioning and aching feet completely worthwhile, and I thoroughly enjoyed the process of bringing this 2D character to life in reality.