The texture of this Dorothy outfit was captured remarkably well under the outdoor natural lighting. I'm especially grateful to photographer Yugao-laoshi for capturing so many vivid moments in these convention photos at the Arknights Only event.
Let's start with the specific styling details. The long white trench coat was actually a major test in fabric selection—if it was too stiff, it would look rigid, but if it was too soft, it would lose its structured silhouette. We tested and chose among several fabrics before finalizing it. The shoulder cutouts and yellow striped panels on the cuffs are visual highlights of the entire trench coat. To recreate the techwear style from the character's design sheet, the Velcro on the cuffs was custom-made. The inner white lapel and off-the-shoulder design balance out the heaviness of the outer trench coat perfectly.
The lower half was the real centerpiece of the outfit. A lot of effort went into tailoring the dark brown leather skirt, as it needed to accommodate the posture of sitting down while keeping a nice drape when standing, all while ensuring the leather's sheen didn't look cheap under natural lighting. The orange zipper on the front of the skirt is one of its most recognizable elements, for which we specifically sourced matching-toned hardware for the pull tab and zipper track. The small fringe at the skirt hem adds a sense of flow when walking, striking a balance between a sleek look and rich detailing.
The lace-up design on the over-the-knee leather boots is my favorite part of the lower outfit. Beyond flattering the leg lines, the criss-cross laces and top buckles give the boots a powerful aesthetic. Paired with bright yellow gloves, it creates a striking color contrast that echoes the yellow elements on the garment while making hand movements stand out in photos. Coordinating these accessories took about three weeks from concept to crafting, and the final silhouette and texture turned out even better than I anticipated.
The lighting on the day of the shoot was very soft. This diffuse natural light was very forgiving for both the leather fabric and the white trench coat—preventing overexposure while preserving clear material textures. Although the convention was crowded, Yugao-laoshi helped us flexibly avoid the heavy foot traffic and located a street beside a green belt as our main shooting spot. The stack of white papers in my hand in the photos was actually materials obtained on-site; fitting Dorothy's setting as a researcher, holding them naturally added an authentic touch of workplace realism.
We tried several sets of poses during the shoot. The single-leg standing snapshot actually required a fair bit of core balance, plus the trench coat needed to flare up with movement, so we tried five or six times to achieve that natural, fluttering effect. The seated poses focused more on displaying Dorothy's composed and unhurried aura. Although the leather skirt felt a bit tight while sitting, thanks to the well-crafted pattern drafting beforehand, it didn't compromise wearing comfort.
From morning makeup to wrapping up in the afternoon, my overall condition stayed great throughout. Styling the wig also took quite a bit of effort; this short blonde style is fairly lightweight, so to stabilize the animal ears, we widened the inner hairnet and ear support mounts, ensuring they wouldn't easily shift during active movements and improving shooting efficiency.
At a gathering of fellow fans like the Arknights Only convention, being able to meet everyone dressed as a favorite character is deeply meaningful in itself. Standing by the roadside holding papers, or sitting on the steps looking into the lens, pondering and feeling Dorothy's calm and decisive personality base during this process, and attempting to re-interpret this aura through my own understanding was incredibly fulfilling. Although this layered outfit takes some time to put on and take off, being able to record these crisp convention photo images made it completely worthwhile.
I really love how these convention photos turned out—clean framing and accurate color rendition preserved both the character's spirit and the outfit's exquisite details, making it a truly valuable memento of this anime convention experience.