While sorting through my photo album, I bumped into this old set of photos, so I decided to clean them up and post them today. That post description said, "Hold on, let me strike a pose first." Looking back, I was indeed constantly searching for angles and making adjustments in front of the lens; behind every single photo were countless repeated attempts of cinching my waist and lifting my leg. Toward the end, I simply decided to "swipe left" and switch poses, which did carry a bit of the helplessness of "oops, let's try again," but this casually recorded state turned out to be the most natural.
This time, I tried a Xianxia costume design in a Traditional Chinese style dominated by blue and white. The clothing is heavily layered in terms of materials, combining thin gauze and chiffon; the white fabric is exceptionally light, creating a wonderful flowing effect when walking or when the wind blows. A folding-fan-shaped cinched design was specially crafted across the chest, complemented by metallic decorative accents at the waist, giving the overall styling a sharp touch within its ethereal aura. The sleeve covers on both shoulders are actually a layer of light, transparent gauze, which is not only breathable but also visually elongates arm lines. What satisfied me most overall was actually the color palette—interweaving light cyan and white, which flatters cool fair skin remarkably well. Paired inside the studio with white plush cushions and a glowing round moon screen in the background, the cool atmospheric vibe was maxed out immediately.
However, the most troublesome part of wearing this outfit was the tall boot covers on my feet. As you can see from the photos, these boot covers were specially customized with a hollow-out pattern; although they elongate leg lines and look great, putting them on and taking them off took a tremendous amount of time. Furthermore, to keep the covers snug around the ankles, the elastic bands had to be tied tightly. The clear chunky heels on the floor in Photo 2 are what I took off—since the boot cover itself features an elastic toe-thong design, the high heels had to stay inside to support the boot shape, meaning my soles were constantly rubbing and straining. The moment I took off those shoes after shooting, I felt pure relief.
Speaking of "pulling out selected old photos," the wig styling at the time is also well worth mentioning. A wig with silver-white hair transitioning into light blue really tests a stylist's skill. The top of the head featured 3D shapes resembling animal ears or dragon horns on both sides, complemented by several blue hair ornaments that defined my facial contours clearly. In front of the camera, I sometimes had to intentionally search for lazy yet playful eyes—like the posture holding my chin in both hands in Photo 3, which looks casual but was aimed at showcasing the character's lively charm. The original post said to bring "something different," and indeed, compared to simply sitting upright and formal, I prefer the candid feel in Photo 4 with legs crossed naturally and my body leaning slightly back, which feels relaxed and everyday.
The Traditional Chinese style set for this shoot was also thoughtfully arranged. Dark wooden daybeds and footstools, paired with a large area of white fur padding, not only echoed our outfit colors but also added warmth to the whole image. The round light board in the background, featuring ink-wash style branches and bird patterns, added a special artistic charm to the photos. So as I casually post this set, I feel that our success rate back then was quite high. Shooting cosplay is inherently like this—outsiders might often think it's just about changing clothes, but behind every set of good photos lies repeated polishing across hair, makeup, clothing layering, and body expression. The blue-and-white ribbons and metal ornaments in this outfit were mostly fixed step by step later on, just to preserve that fluttering elegance even during movement.
Well, that's enough rambling for today. This photo set was mainly to share a slightly different styling look, and I hope you enjoyed checking them out.