Challenging Cartethyia and Fleurdelys at a height of 160cm made proportional adjustments the core focus during our prep. To mirror the character's slender, elongated silhouette, we altered the garment pattern multiple times, paying special attention to calibrating the waistline height. The costume's construction is intricate: an outer layer of semi-sheer white tulle draped over black strappy underlayers, accented by a black choker and golden buckles. With so many overlapping layers, keeping everything aligned required constant maintenance—any slight bend or arm movement caused the straps and tulle to shift out of place, demanding readjustment between takes.
The sword in my hands was the masterpiece of our prop team. The blade carries a pale blue sheen, while the guard and hilt were sculpted into complex black brambles adorned with gilded accents. To create rich dimension, the prop was carved from multiple stacked materials while carefully balancing weight to prevent severe wrist strain. Holding the sword single-handedly on set, its physical heft was unmistakable, but I maintained a taut, regal posture throughout to secure optimal shots.
For the wig, I selected flaxen blonde hair with soft sky-blue highlights, trimming the bangs to flatter the character's facial structure. The custom elf ears required blending wax along the edges so they appeared seamless even in close-ups. Makeup focused heavily on the eyes, layering reddish-pink shadows to sweep the outer corners outward and lend a sharper, piercing edge to my gaze. The base remained sheer and luminous, paired with cool berry lips and silver-toned contacts to evoke an aloof chill.
The location was set in a European-style indoor colonnade. Warm amber ceiling chandeliers cast downward, forging subtle warm-and-cool chiaroscuro against the blue skirt. The dress featured a sweeping train; capturing that flowing, dynamic pool across the floor required continually flicking and draping the fabric. Two soft yellow star ornaments adorned the side of the skirt, while the golden chains at my waist clinked softly with each movement. Clear 8cm high-heeled sandals added sleek height to my 160cm stature on camera without visually interrupting the cool blue tones below.
The shoot spanned from morning into late afternoon, with a mid-session restyling. Pacing around and holding poses left my ankles and wrists genuinely tired, yet beholding the raw frames on the monitor made every ounce of effort worthwhile. Doing anime cosplay always feels like stepping into another soul's life journey—from every thread in the tailoring to every carved groove on the prop, each detail elevates the character's presence. There was no need to force theatricality; simply standing there allowed the scene to convey its true, quiet grandeur.