[Megumi Kato Cosplay] Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, Anime Star City Night in Red-and-White Casual Wear

Today, I completed the photoshoot for Megumi Kato's classic casual wear set at Anime Star City. This red knitted cardigan paired with a white ruffled shirt actually puts texture to a severe test. To recreate that seemingly ordinary yet intensely heroine-like atmosphere of Megumi Kato, I did a lot of homework on the clothing details. The ruffles of the white shirt and the thin black ribbon at the neckline are the soul of this outfit. To add a bit of winter warmth and layering, I paired it with a white plush beret. For the lower body, I chose a white tiered short skirt and white over-the-knee socks; the lace and small bow decorations at the cuff of the socks neutralize the mature feel of the red cardigan. Paired with pink Mary Jane shoes, the overall red, white, and pink color tone closely matches the character's soft and cute attributes. The shooting location was chosen at Anime Star City, where the colorful shops and night lights are actually very suitable for such everyday-style 2D scenes. Megumi Kato is a character who seems inconspicuous in a crowd, but the more you look at her, the more charming she becomes. Therefore, during the shoot, I tried my best to relax my expression, keep my gaze from being overly sharp, and maintain that crystal-clear gentleness. Those shots of gently stroking the hat and clasping hands together were also meant to express her casual everyday habits. For a coser, casual wear is not necessarily easier to shoot than gorgeous big dresses; big dresses have intricate accessories to cover up many flaws, while casual wear relies entirely on body proportions and facial expressions to hold up. The tightness of the over-the-knee socks, the arc of the skirt hem, and even the wrinkles of the shirt all needed meticulous care before the shoot; a slight carelessness would make it look bulky. This time outdoors, I am very grateful to the photographer for using excellent fill-light techniques to increase the saturation of the red-and-white color scheme, making the picture more lively and rendering the bokeh in the night scene very dreamy. This work can be considered an attempt at a more everyday-oriented route, hoping to present her unassuming yet just-right sense of presence.