[Gongsun Li Cosplay] Honor of Kings Smoke of Partings: High-Slit Dress is Utterly Stunning

At the Zhongshan AS comic con this time, I finally got to capture Gongsun Li Cosplay in the Smoke of Partings outfit from Honor of Kings. The last time I cosplayed this look was winter; this time at the venue on August 22, despite the air conditioning, moving around the halls in this full gear was still somewhat stuffy. However, seeing the final shots captured through photographer NightDiva's lens, all the hard work felt completely worthwhile.

Let's talk about the costume details first. The wig for Gongsun Li's Smoke of Partings features a deep blue gradient; I used plenty of hairspray and bobby pins to reinforce the two circular looped buns on top, paired with exquisite red-and-gold hair accessories, bringing rich visual depth to the overall headpiece. The main outfit is an asymmetrical white dress whose high-slit design allows the leg lines to be fully displayed, though it also meant being extra vigilant to avoid wardrobe malfunctions while posing. The round green jade ornament at the waist and the teal, white, and red arm warmers with metallic cloud patterns had to be carefully adjusted to prevent slipping during the shoot. On my feet, the gray ankle boots featured gold tips and soles, while the ankle zippers and tiny red tassels were brimming with fine craftsmanship. The long-handled prop in hand resembles a staff—with its teal body, golden lines, and red beads, it had substantial weight, and holding it single-handedly while striking poses truly tested my wrist strength.

My collaborator for this shoot was photographer NightDiva. The venue's cool-toned ceiling lights naturally lent a cinematic mood to the scene. We found a relatively secluded space where NightDiva set up a softbox and reflector, thoroughly blurring out the background crowds and gear so the overall atmosphere emerged immediately. I especially loved striking poses with that long-handled staff; paired with the high-slit dress, whether standing or seated, the movements carried powerful dynamic tension.

The shooting process really put my core strength to the test. In particular, for the pose where one leg rests on a black folding stool, projecting an air of lightness and grace actually required keeping the leg muscles held taut the entire time, while steadily supporting the long-handled prop and keeping my eyes locked on the lens to convey the character's confidence. The photographer's lighting was precise, accentuating my skin tone and the delicate translucent texture of the fabric ribbons, especially creating clear, sparkling catchlights in my eyes. To align with the character's temperament, the eye makeup was specially accentuated with red details, harmonizing seamlessly with the deep blue wig.

The Zhongshan AS venue was spacious with great lighting. After this set of Convention photos from August 22 was retouched, I was extremely satisfied with the overall cool-toned color grading, feeling it accurately captured Gongsun Li's blend of cool detachment and subtle vitality. The fabric yielded fine, delicate reflections under the light, and the texture of the prop looked fantastic on camera. In presenting Smoke of Partings, I feel there's still plenty of potential to explore in movement choreography and light-and-shadow coordination. I look forward to experimenting with more shooting angles when opportunities arise to continually refine my Anime cosplay creations.