[Cartethyia Cosplay] Old Dreams and New Clothes of Lahailuo

From selecting this dress to completing the studio shoot, the overall style was intentionally leaned toward a dreamlike and ethereal feel. Trying a look with elf elements for the first time, I made many detailed adjustments from makeup to wig styling.

The upper part of this outfit features a pink off-the-shoulder ruffled design, with the fabric having a slightly sheer texture, which, paired with the pure white satin skirt hem, creates a very distinct sense of layering. The shoulder straps and neckline are adorned with small flower vines, echoing the flower headband on the head. The paired silver high heels feature pearl chain decorations, and combined with the white lace-up straps on the legs, they add exquisite details to the entire look. The wig used is light gold, styled into a single side braid, which, coordinated with the elf ears and the black totem pattern on the forehead, instantly brings out the character's demeanor. The blue colored contacts make the gaze look clear and deep, and under the studio lighting, the eye color and makeup blend beautifully.

The layout of the shooting scene was very thoughtful, featuring pink-purple gauze curtains as a background, coupled with stacked cream-colored and light blue faux flowers around, as well as a pink long-pile carpet at the bottom—all elements aimed to set off this soft atmosphere. The photographer utilized a softbox to hit a very uniform key light, while the side-backlighting outlined the contours of the hair strands, which, combined with the colored light sources in the scene, gave the frame colors a bit of a cinematic feel within the dreaminess.

Regarding the sense of story this set of photos wants to convey, it is actually closely related to the "Rover" and "Lahailuo" mentioned in the post. Under the background of Wuthering Waves, the character of Cartethyia itself is an existence full of memories and bonds. Whether it's the Rover choosing to embark on a new journey or the old dream regarding Lahailuo, it carries an inseparable emotional weight. When shooting this set of photos, I tried to capture that emotion which looks soft on the surface but actually hides determination and a tiny bit of melancholy deep down inside. Just like that questioning line—if you go to Lahailuo, will you still remember Cartethyia? I think, whether as a character or as a cosplayer empathizing with the character, that memory is profound and irreplaceable; it will become our foundation to move forward. This project stands as a heartfelt piece of Wuthering Waves fan content that I hold dear.

In terms of expression management, I intentionally experimented with different states ranging from lazy to slightly melancholy, such as sitting askew on a pink bean bag chair with a hand gently propping up my cheek, or half-squatting in the flowers looking down at the ground, all hoping to restore the character's quiet and slightly detached temperament. The makeup didn't undergo heavy shading or contouring, but preserved the original translucent feel of the skin tone, paired with a flesh-pink lipstick to make the entire person's state look more natural.

This should be a finished photo set I am relatively satisfied with recently for this instance of Wuthering Waves cosplay. When walking and sitting down, the lower hem of the costume has a great drape, and the off-the-shoulder part doesn't catch the arms, making it very convenient to perform various movements. When wearing the elf ears, specialized glue was used, and combined with the weight of the wig and hair accessories, the overall state was exceptionally stable. Spending most of the day shooting in this scene, besides debugging the light, shadow, and angles, the greatest energy was actually spent on how to make the body language naturally fit the character's personality. I hope everyone can feel my dedication to this character through this piece of Cosplay photography.