[Misaki cosplay] Blue Archive Kisaki: Collision of vintage Chinese style and cheongsam

This vintage Chinese style styling of Kisaki from Blue Archive took about half a month from preparation to final photos. What I want to share most with everyone are the outfit's details and the behind-the-scenes experience during shooting.

First, regarding the costume: this deep-blue Modern Cheongsam forms the core of the entire set. It preserves numerous traditional motifs, such as the mandarin collar and blue straight frog closures, while featuring a distinctly modern silhouette. The golden dragon pattern across the chest and the fish-scale embroidery along the skirt hem are solidly crafted, reflecting light with rich dimension without looking cheap. The cheongsam features bold high side slits and a cutout back design; wearing it alone felt slightly bare, so I layered a form-fitting pair of black safety shorts underneath, which not only prevented wardrobe slips but also added visual depth to the overall look. For the blue-gray striped outerwear, I deliberately chose to wear it draped halfway down into the crooks of my arms, revealing the collarbone, neck, and arm lines to break away from the cheongsam's conventional rigidity.

Styling the hair and accessories also required meticulous care. After cutting blunt bangs and framing sideburns into the deep-blue wig, two buns were sculpted on the crown, flowing into long low ponytails. The crescent moon headpiece and blue butterfly accents created striking visual contrast against the dark strands. To keep the horn-shaped ornaments secure throughout the shoot, I used numerous bobby pins anchored into the wig base. For makeup, the focus was centered on the eyes, blending soft reddish-pink hues paired with a natural lip tone; to align with the character's aura, the entire makeup look remained cool, poised, and polished.

The location was chosen in a vintage interior featuring wooden lattice doors and windows. To highlight the character, we styled traditional Chinese decorative props, such as blooming white plum blossoms in the background, Xuan paper calligraphy scrolls, and a faux-fur rug. The spear prop was another centerpiece of the shoot; finished in red and black, it carried a tangible sense of heft. During shooting, I explored varied stances to harmonize with this prop—resting one hand against a chair or leaning the spear against the chairback—letting it blend organically into the scene rather than sticking out as a stiff prop.

This time, I paired flesh-toned Stockings with black patent high heels. The delicate sheen of the stockings under warm lighting, combined with the cheongsam's high slit, elongated the visual line of the legs effortlessly. However, shooting in heels is truly a workout for endurance; after consecutive seated setups, my feet ached slightly, so while resting on the rug mid-shoot, I simply kicked off the shoes and went barefoot, which unexpectedly allowed the photographer to capture a candid, naturally relaxed state.

Lighting setup was equally crucial. The photographer dialed in warm tones, infusing the entire frame with a nostalgic aura reminiscent of vintage photographs. In front of the camera, I channeled different emotional nuances: the resolute focus of resting my chin on my hand while gazing into the lens, the quiet stillness of adjusting my coat looking down, and the playful glance looking back in the final shot. To capture the character's essence, I kept my gaze calm and slightly aloof. Although this cheongsam departs from traditional Chinese garments, this exact fusion of modern tailoring and heritage embroidery offered a uniquely refreshing creative journey. This shoot gave me a deeper understanding of body expression in modern cheongsams, and I will continue pushing for more breakthroughs across diverse styles moving forward.