Shooting this pink dress for Touhou Project took about a week from makeup testing to final delivery. When I first received this outfit, my immediate impression was its sheer weight and incredibly rich layering. Once fully dressed, I was completely enveloped in this intricate sense of opulence.
First, talking about the costume details: the overall palette is anchored in pink, accented with numerous red bows and white lace. The top features dense pleats and ruffles, adorned on the chest with an eye-catching red bow and brooch ornament. The most dramatic element is the skirt hem, formed by multiple tiers of pink fabric and sheer tulle stacked layer upon layer, with delicate lace and red piping along every edge. When dressing, each layer had to be smoothed out sequentially to achieve that puffy, classic court volume. The pink wide-brimmed lace bonnet on my head was another key highlight; paired with a red bow, it took up nearly the entire upper frame, delivering a striking visual punch.
Regarding the wig, to complement this attire, I chose a vibrant short Blue wig styled with blunt bangs and gentle wave curls tucking inward along the cheeks to flatter the face shape. For makeup, the focus was placed on the reddish-brown colored contacts, paired with blended red eyeshadow and distinct lower lashes, aiming to give the gaze a languid yet deep, mesmerizing quality. The lip color was kept in a natural pink hue to echo the dress.
The shooting location was an indoor setting infused with vintage elements, centered around this red velvet sofa with ornate golden carvings. The background was decorated with dark wood wall panels, vintage candelabras, and red floral arrangements. The first photo was primarily a medium close-up, highlighting facial features, the bonnet, and chest details. Leaning against the sofa, I rested one hand naturally beside my cheek, allowing the intricate lace frills to cascade softly. The second photo was a full-body composition where I tried a crossed-leg seated posture; this displayed the fully unfurled volume of the skirt while revealing a glimpse of white lace-trimmed ankle socks and dark brown round-toe block-heel leather shoes, completing the whole ensemble.
To align with this Vintage court style mood, the photographer adopted moody, low-key lighting. The key light was concentrated on the face and the front of the pink dress while darkening the background, creating sharp contrast between light and shadow. During posing, because the skirt was so voluminous, every pose adjustment required rearranging the dress folds and bonnet angle to prevent crushing the lace and ruffles. Keeping the shoulders and arms naturally relaxed was essential to portraying that effortless, languid poise lounging on the sofa.
Completing this entire photo set was a true test of stamina and patience. However, seeing the rich fabric textures, the nuanced gradations of light and shadow, and the classical ambiance captured in the final shots made all the prep work and on-set adjustments completely worthwhile.