The details on this outfit are truly worth highlighting. The wig is a luminous sky blue with soft, natural curls at the tips; to secure the black-and-red horn ornaments firmly on both sides of the crown, I concealed several bobby pins deep within the roots. Wig fibers easily reflect harsh glare under natural daylight, so during the shoot I specifically asked the photographer to catch side rim lighting, softening the texture of each hair strand. The main body is a sleeveless white modified design featuring a traditional mandarin collar and Chinese frog buttons, centered by a teardrop-shaped keyhole cutout that showcases a substantial golden bell dangling in the middle, emitting muffled chimes as I walked. Detached white ruffled sleeves were paired with blue-and-white gradient long gloves stretching from fingertips to elbows, echoing the golden chains along the arms and the knotted cords lining the dress flanks.
For the lower half, dark brown fitted tights and Stockings were patterned with striking golden geometric motifs along the outer thighs, complemented by an elongated light-blue gradient train flowing from the side of the top that billowed gracefully whenever the wind picked up. On my feet were glossy black heels; while the height wasn't excessive, treading across the classical garden's flagstones required delicate care to avoid catching the heels in stone grooves. In my hand was a black folding fan, which could be unfurled to veil half of my face or folded to serve as an ornamental pointing prop, keeping me experimenting with graceful hand positions between takes.
Our shooting location today was a classical Chinese garden steeped in vintage charm. The setting featured stout vermilion pillars, intricately carved timber benches, and wooden balustrades beneath a cloister adorned with richly painted crossbeams, flanked on the left by hanging crimson lanterns. Flanking bamboo groves and verdant foliage allowed dappled sunlight to filter through the canopy, painting mosaic shadows across the floor. Sitting along the bench, I tilted my torso slightly to display the Stockings and golden leg patterns, or leaned against the pillars to elongate my silhouette. Standing centered within the corridor, I held the fan at my side with a slight tilt of the head, seeking to dissolve naturally into this oriental architectural mood.
Outdoor shoots are undoubtedly an endurance test: standing on flagstones in heels for hours left the soles of my feet aching, and the cumulative weight of the wig and horn ornaments made my neck rather stiff. Yet seeing the harmonious interplay of light, shadow, and color across the camera display made every inconvenience worthwhile. The corridor breeze was fairly stiff, repeatedly whipping the train and wig into disarray and forcing us to wait for lulls before catching the shot. Taking advantage of the festive atmosphere to return to Liyue for the festival, bringing out this traditional Chinese-inspired Anime-style photography set was a deeply rewarding celebration.