For this Qixi celebration photo, I chose the character Ruan Mei. From the beginning of preparation, I felt the Chinese-style elements of this attire resonated wonderfully with the festival's atmosphere. Having settled on this Ruan Mei cosplay, everything from the wig and makeup to costume accessories needed to recreate her refined, ethereal elegance as faithfully as possible. Ruan Mei's design heavily employs a vibrant contrast between pure white and peacock blue; the upper body features a white base with 3D petal cutouts around the Chinese-style mandarin collar, anchored by the eye-catching emerald gemstone at the center as the visual focal point. The lower half is a lustrous deep-blue velvet long skirt; the high-slit design prevents the look from feeling heavy, allowing the leg details to show gracefully when walking or seated.
Speaking of details, this time I wore sheer nude stockings paired with a pearl thigh chain, complemented by white lace anklets at the ankles and matching blue pointed suede heels, visually elongating leg proportions in this Stocking outfit. The hand accessories feature an asymmetrical design: a sleek long blue leather glove on the right hand and a semi-sheer white lace glove on the left hand—an asymmetrical pairing that creates an intriguing beauty where avant-garde and classical aesthetics intertwine.
For the wig, I selected a black base with subtle dark-green streak-dyed highlights in the bangs and sideburns, cleanly echoing the emerald gemstone on the collar and the peacock blue of the skirt without feeling jarring. The headwear utilized lightweight ornaments of pink petals and tulle mesh, providing a delicate, airy contrast against the voluminous black hair. For the folding fan, I chose a blue-and-white fan with pearlescent water-ripple patterns; its lightweight ribs made it easy to hold, eliminating awkward hand poses while adding a scholar's refined poise to the overall silhouette in this Chinese-style cosplay.
The shooting location was an antique Chinese courtyard. Wooden benches, rustic pillars, and mossy eaves—these rugged architectural elements juxtaposed against the meticulously crafted costume to create an organic, vivid contrast in Ancient style photography. Because the day was overcast, the soft, diffused outdoor light eliminated harsh shadows, rendering skin tones and fabric textures with balanced smoothness. In full-body shots, using the thick wooden pillars in the foreground framed the composition, establishing visual depth while lending the frame an intimate, serene mood.
The character Ruan Mei carries an inherent, otherworldly cool detachment. On a festival as intensely sentimental as Qixi, I instead wanted to freeze her unswayed, transcendental serenity before the camera. The high slit and Stocking outfit bring a touch of subtle allure, yet the overall posture and expression maintain a distinct distance. The photoshoot proceeded very smoothly; seated naturally on the bench with the folding fan in hand, just a few poses captured breathtaking moments.
This is my first Ruan Mei celebration shoot of the year. From finalizing the makeup to framing angles inside the ancient pavilion, the styling under natural outdoor light looked far more organic than in a studio. I am very satisfied with the final photos; in both costume nuances and overall atmosphere, this Ancient style photography shoot delivered a truly fulfilling result for this Honkai: Star Rail Chinese-style cosplay theme.