[Lillie cosplay] Heading to the Convention in a Big Hat for a Plushie Photo Op

Taking photos with plushies at WCS was pure joy! Today I did a Lillie cosplay; the pairing of the white dress with the oversized sun hat and white stockings came together wonderfully on camera. Before setting out in the morning, I spent considerable time styling the wig—braiding the two side plaits so they looked soft rather than stiff, and repeatedly readjusting the wide brim to make sure it wouldn't cast heavy shadows over my entire face. For makeup, I emphasized a fresh, translucent look, using a soft light-brown wash for the eyes without winging the eyeliner out too far to remain faithful to her gentle girlhood charm.

Once inside the hall, I went straight to the Pokémon booth. The colossal plushie was towering, imposing in size yet amazingly soft to the touch. The line wasn't too long, so I stepped up to take a few shots beside it. In the very first frame, I hadn't placed my hand on it yet, which looked slightly stiff; the photographer then directed me to rest my hand on the plushie's arm and tilt my posture gently. I shifted my weight slightly, extending my left leg forward to elongate the leg lines with the dress hem and knee-high socks. The white stockings were fairly sheer and tended to slip down a bit after lots of walking, so I gave them a discreet pull before snaps to keep them smooth in the frame.

I thought I'd easily collect all the pins today since it had been effortless last year, which made me skip doing proper research beforehand. But after heading over to the Pokémon Center area, I couldn't get a single pin. Although the line wasn't absurdly long, the rules were much stricter than last year, likely due to the surge in attendees. I rummaged through my bag only to find the Amoonguss pin I brought along—it felt like walking into an exam and realizing you forgot your test admission ticket. Watching others show off their fresh pins, all I could do was make a slightly regretful exit clutching my Amoonguss pin. It wasn't devastating, but it definitely taught me to read up on the rules early next time rather than banking on overconfidence.

I also bumped into several fellow fans who recognized the character; we took photos together and chatted about costume craftsmanship. The big hat looked gorgeous, but wearing it for hours caused neck strain, especially while holding poses for photos. Still, having the plushie photo op elevated the pictures immensely. The high saturation of the backdrop—dominated by vivid greens paired with neon signage—made my complexion and the pure white dress stand out brightly. Afterward, I wandered around the halls, browsed artist stalls, and admired plenty of impressive cosplays; everyone put so much heart into their work.

By the end of the day, my legs were aching from all the walking, the balls of my feet were sore from high heels, and my white stockings had gathered a bit of dust. Yet browsing through the convention photos on the camera, the playful contrast of standing next to that giant plush was delightful. From crafting the costume and scouting angles to posing with the plushie, these are the one-of-a-kind experiences of convention life. Missing out on the new pins was a bummer, but that's part of the con adventure. Next time I'll be back for them! For now, posting these convention photos to record this slightly unexpected journey.