[Gongsun Li Cosplay] Honor of Kings Smoke of Partings: Every Umbrella and Staff Tells a Story

A lot of thought actually went into the presentation and details for this Smoke of Partings outfit. When I first got the wig, it was a bit of a headache; because of the double-bun styling coupled with the stray hairs on both sides, I had to ensure character accuracy while keeping it looking naturally fluffy. I adjusted the layers repeatedly before it finally held its shape. The golden hair ornaments and red bead embellishments on top of my head actually have a great sense of layering under the light, preventing it from looking too plain. In terms of the costume, this off-the-shoulder outfit with a white base and red-and-gold color scheme accurately recreates the golden cloud patterns on the chest and the cyan tassels; it's not restrictive, yet the waist tailoring fits my body shape beautifully. The combination of the sheer tulle sleeves on the shoulders and the dark-colored arm cuffs helps accentuate the arm lines, and the lightweight material prevents it from feeling too stifling when walking around the convention venue.

The props were a major hurdle. The frame of this ink-wash style oil-paper umbrella is entirely made of bamboo. When opened, its stress points need to be secured properly. It feels substantial and carries real weight in hand; to maintain a smooth curve of the umbrella surface in the lens during the shoot, I had to carefully control the force applied by my hands. The craftsmanship of the staff is also highly refined, featuring a cyan-to-green gradient lotus leaf design wrapped with golden vines at the top. Holding it gives a strong sense of presence, which perfectly fits the agile temperament of the Smoke of Partings cosplay character. Since the venue had warm-toned lighting, to recreate the character's cold, elegant, and slightly sorrowful vibe, I communicated with the photographer multiple times; switching between low-angle and high-angle look-down perspectives definitely helped bring out her spirit more easily. Although the character's setting is quite fierce, the moment I held the umbrella and staff in front of the lens, I could truly immerse myself in that chic and independent aura. Recording this set of convention photos can be considered a full effort to express the traditional Chinese style texture intended by this Honor of Kings cosplay project.