This photoshoot was a rather bold attempt. While I usually do studio shoots, this time I specifically found a real set featuring Chinese lattice screens to match this outfit with modified Qipao elements. Before shooting, I had long discussions with the photographer. Since this is Rem from Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, switching to this white Chinese-style dress gave off quite a unique atmosphere. For example, the cool blue background lighting combined with warm light falling across the skin made the skin tone look more translucent, fitting the character's original aloof, serene temperament. We deliberately chose this wooden cut-out lattice screen, with deep blue light filtering from behind and warmer rim light in the front, creating a contrast of warm and cool tones that better highlighted the character's silhouette.
The costume features plenty of details. The dress is white with delicate lace trim, featuring cut-out designs on both the back and sides. The gold embroidery along the collar and cuffs, along with the bow on the chest, are very exquisite. Especially in this sideways seated pose, where the skirt hem drapes naturally, the golden leg strap around the thigh and the beaded anklet chain are revealed, creating a wonderful interlocking aesthetic. Among accessories, the gold armband and the leg strap were finishing touches, preserving some signature traits of the character. The headpiece consisted of white flowers, a black bow, and purple ribbons, which, paired with the short blue hair, conveyed a subtle melancholic beauty. For makeup, to suit the overall vibe, I chose light blue colored contacts and soft reddish eyeshadow to make the gaze appear clearer and deeper.
During the shoot, adjusting poses took quite some time. Due to the cut of this modified Qipao, glancing back over the shoulder while turned sideways best showcases the silhouette lines. Just like in the first photo, I arched to emphasize my back and side contours, keeping my legs slightly bent to maintain a natural yet tension-filled posture. Keeping the back perfectly straight while twisting around to look into the lens and maintaining a focused gaze really tested my endurance. The second photo added a round fan, holding it beside a gently tilted cheek to create an alternative gentle, elegant ambiance. This classical 2D mashup produced an unexpected chemistry compared to standard cosplays. It was actually quite exhausting to shoot—at one point my waist almost cramped from twisting—so having the photographer capture natural moments actually worked out better.
The wig and hair styling also took considerable effort. The bangs were trimmed neat and straight, paired with a small pink hairpin to look delicate and dainty. The accessory on the chest featured blue tassels, echoing the hair color perfectly. Looking back on this session, despite having beautiful clothes and a great backdrop, holding this somewhat uncomfortable side-kneeling posture was genuinely tiring; the floor was hard, and kneeling for a long time even on a blanket made my knees ache. But seeing the final photos made all the hardship completely worthwhile. The final texture turned out very clear and translucent, with the contrast between cool and warm tones giving the subject great dimensionality—I really love this look.