[Belle cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero Summer Swimwear: Lord Phaethon at the Anime Expo

This summer swimwear version of Belle from Zenless Zone Zero took a long time to prepare from concept to execution. In the game, Belle is always seen in her regular uniform, so I wondered what Lord Phaethon would wear if she visited an anime convention or vacationed at the beach. In the end, I settled on this breezy look centered on an orange palette. For the top, I chose a white semi-sheer chiffon short-sleeve shirt featuring a colorful 'Sea' graphic print, tying the hem in a knot to highlight the waistline. To add a casual flair, I attached orange floral accents along the neckline and shoulder. The bottoms are bright orange booty shorts with a bit of stretch, making expansive poses completely effortless. On the belt, I hung a blue acrylic keychain badge inscribed with 'Furious Fish Sticks' as my own little creative touch.

I spent ages trimming and styling the wig because Belle's hair is a wispy, layered, fluffy short cut. To keep it secure, I wore an orange bucket hat and pinned the bangs to one side with an 'N'-shaped hairpin to show my forehead. Paired with green colored contacts and orange pumpkin-shaped drop earrings, the color contrast turned out strikingly vivid. I kept the makeup relatively light, focusing on translucent eye makeup and sweeping blush slightly higher on the cheekbones to emphasize youthful vitality. The silver wavy necklace around my neck took ages to source, but it matched the character's original aesthetic wonderfully.

Heading to the CICF convention, I made sure to bring along a large Bangboo plush pillow. This plush was custom-made to faithfully recreate the adorable in-game model; holding it worked wonderfully not only for posing, but also for half-covering my face or leaning against. On my feet, cream-white bear-themed platform slides provided a great height boost, elongating leg proportions against the shorts while staying remarkably comfortable after walking all day.

The convention environment was quite challenging—the outdoor light was harsh and the background rather cluttered, yet the modern architecture with metallic railings and expansive glass curtain walls unexpectedly lent the shots an authentic urban slice-of-life atmosphere. When posing, I tried to stay relaxed with cheerful gestures, like flashing peace signs at the lens or holding the Bangboo plush while angling my body to showcase waist and leg lines, aiming to capture her lively, quick-witted demeanor. Though the convention was crowded and hot, bringing this breezy summer-edition Belle to life and snapping satisfying photos made the journey immensely enjoyable. This outfit is perfect for summer—breathable and comfy—adding a memorable chapter to my Zenless Zone Zero cosplay journey.