[Hu Tao cosplay] NARAKA: BLADEPOINT Early Cherry Blossom Dream: Pink Japanese Style Beneath Cherry Blossom Trees

Preparing for this Early Cherry Blossom Dream styling for Hu Tao from NARAKA: BLADEPOINT took considerable care from makeup to final framing. Today, I'll document the shooting details straight from the studio.

First, the hair and makeup. The long, straight pink wig needed thorough detangling, along with trimming the side locks to frame the face. The placement and volume of the twintails were pivotal—tying them too high looks forced, while tying them too low lacks vitality. The plush beast ears atop the head required internal wire framing to stay upright. For hair accessories, small daisies and pearl tassels were adjusted to look lively on camera. In terms of makeup, the pink contact lenses were the soul of the look, paired with layered light-and-deep pink eyeshadow blended softly past the outer corners and a glossy pink lip to unify the palette with the costume.

The garment details are exquisite: a red-and-white bandeau top with delicate lace ruffles and golden stitching across the chest. The wide waist obi sash anchored by a golden metallic flower in the dead center serves as the visual focal point; it must be tied firmly to define the waistline. The sheer pink chiffon sleeves feature cherry blossom prints bordered with gold piping. The bottom is a mini-skirt hem paired with crimson ankle ornaments. Because no stockings were worn, the red-and-gold bow anklets required precise angle adjustment to avoid visually shortening the legs. For props, I brought a paper umbrella, a folding fan, and a round silk fan, allowing versatile body choreography.

The set featured wooden folding screens, tatami mats, and cherry blossoms strewn across the floor. I made frequent adjustments to sitting poses: because the skirt is quite short, I primarily leaned into side-sitting, cross-legged, or single-knee raised postures. When holding the round fan, tucking the chin slightly with a gentler gaze worked best. In the folding fan set, I raised one leg subtly, revealing the white high heels and red ankle cords. The photographer guided me to use the fan to veil parts of the face or direct the viewer's eye. Regarding lighting, warm ambient lighting felt very tender against the pink fabric, though careful facial fill-light was essential to prevent dull skin tones.

The entire shoot required ongoing fine-tuning—from how fingers gripped the fan to hair placement and gaze direction. Because of the delicate chiffon accents, overly broad movements could snag the fabric. Real cherry blossom petals were scattered on-site, and having a few rest naturally on the skirt hem added wonderful atmosphere. Before every shoot, I take time to dress neatly and verify that all accessories are securely fastened, ensuring we don't break emotional immersion to fix wardrobe issues. From lighting tests to the final click, the shoot took several hours. I am very pleased with the final result; the interplay between soft pink and natural wood brought out a rich, tactile aesthetic.