[Zenless Zone Zero Sweety cosplay] A new Chinese-style interpretation in a traditional Chinese tearoom

Putting on this modified Cheongsam with oriental charm for Zenless Zone Zero's Sweety and stepping into the classical setting of solid wood tea rooms and carved folding screens, I began this photoshoot themed around Chinese vintage style.

The costume design this time adopts a black and red color clash, paired with a modified high-slit cut, which retains the character's original agility while adding a touch of Chinese elegance. Paired with the iconic yellow-tinted sunglasses, the hair on the top of the head was also repeatedly groomed and styled to ensure it wouldn't look messy in the frame, instead highlighting that lazy and casual attitude. The red string around the neck with a gold pendant, along with the small green pendant at the ankle, effectively break the dullness of the main black tone, making the overall styling more striking.

For prop selection, I chose an elegant folding fan. Incorporating the folding fan gives the entire body language more classical charm. When holding the folding fan and sitting casually on the round stool, that composed state naturally emerges. Not only the stretching of the body, but also the subtle changes in eye expression were the focus of this shoot. I tried not to make expressions overly exaggerated, but rather hid this aloofness and coolness beneath a seemingly calm face, so as to get closer to the personality traits of Zenless Zone Zero Sweety herself.

In addition to the costume and props, creating the on-site environment was also a crucial part. To complement this New Chinese style, the background specifically used wooden carved screens with hollow patterns. In addition, a vintage red printed thermos, a small woven bamboo basket, and potted plants on the table were added. These seemingly ordinary daily props, combined with my Chinese-style cosplay outfit, formed an interesting clash of both modern and traditional, game and life. For lighting, the photographer simulated warm natural light, giving the whole frame a quiet afternoon feel with sunlight streaming through the window lattices into the room.

During the shooting process, we made numerous detailed adjustments to find the ideal composition. For example, the angle of the crossed legs, the height of the hand holding the fan, and the center of gravity of the sitting posture—these seemingly minor changes had a decisive impact on the character's lines and temperament in the final image. For the final selected shot, I chose a pose looking back sideways. It not only elongated body proportions, allowing the high-slit design of the cheongsam to better outline leg contours, but also allowed the visual center of the entire frame to firmly settle on the person.

For cosplay, I believe it's not just about wearing a set of clothes, but more importantly understanding the character and integrating one's own interpretation into specific scenes. Before this shoot, I spent considerable time researching relevant materials, trying to capture that unique charm of Zenless Zone Zero Sweety that isn't bound by worldly conventions. Combining a game character with traditional Chinese tearoom culture was a very interesting experiment. To achieve the most satisfying effect, we repeatedly deliberated on lighting and prop placement. Maintaining specific still poses for long periods at indoor room temperature actually places certain demands on body control.

In the intervals of shooting, I also frequently communicated with the photographer about image texture. We wanted to reflect the luster of the black and red Cheongsam and the texture of the skin, minimizing excessive skin smoothing that loses authenticity. Ultimately, the color grading was set to a vintage film tone, which makes the character's makeup look more natural and three-dimensional while retaining the unique warmth of the tearoom. Although this is just a cosplay photo session, I hope that through costume, makeup, scene, and emotion transfer, viewers can feel our team's dedication to excellence.

As a model who often shoots Chinese-style and ACG culture themes, I deeply understand the importance of accuracy. From how sunglasses are worn, to the frog buckle details of the Cheongsam, and even how the red string is tied at the ankle, I strive for precision at every step. Although the shooting process for this set of photos was somewhat hard work, every click of the shutter captured moments of me merging into one with this character. This experience of interpreting a character within a specific cultural atmosphere always brings me immense satisfaction.

Of course, the great results of this final set wouldn't be possible without the meticulous preparation beforehand by the costume designer and makeup artist. The hairstyle and makeup they handled for me played a finishing touch in the final results. Especially in maintaining wig fluffiness and eye makeup colors, we did many tests just to present the most perfect imagery. I always believe that every wholehearted cosplay is the best feedback to the creators.