Offering an early preview today of Alice Margatroid from Touhou Project. Preparing this finished shoot took quite some time, with repeated adjustments made to everything from accessory curation to wig styling. Beginning with the costume details, this piece is an overall Lolita-inspired vintage lace gown. The collar features a multi-tiered high neckline, layering wine-red pleated ruffles over white lace; to ensure the collar held a crisp shape, I reinforced the interior with two layers of support boning, finishing the exterior with a red bead necklace to build visual depth and keep the neckline from looking flat. The sleeves are dramatic, tiered bell sleeves crafted with blue patterned textiles, finished along the edges with deep crimson scalloped trims. Their wide flare adds remarkable expressive tension to every movement. The skirt likewise splices white lace with blue prints, partitioned horizontally by velvet-textured crimson ruffles, requiring a sturdy petticoat to bring out its full drape and volume. Additionally, I paired it with white lace socks and chunky white crisscross-strap platform shoes, striking a balance between substance and delicate refinement.
For hair and makeup, to embody Alice's grace, I opted for bright blue contact lenses and kept the foundation luminous and fair, accented with peach-toned blush and lip gloss to inject a touch of youthful vitality. The golden-blonde short wig was trimmed into a softly waved bob, topped with a red-and-white lace headband adorned with dainty pink bows on each side. Shaping the wig took meticulous effort—keeping the strands airy without looking disheveled, while positioning the bangs cleanly above the brow to avoid obscuring the expressive spark in the eyes.
Presenting this early preview, I must admit that I did not bring her ring or the little Shanghai doll. As Alice's iconic accessories, their absence leaves a flaw in character accuracy, for which I offer a sincere OOC apology. Still, I deeply adore Alice; in interpreting her, my focus was drawn toward highlighting the layered silhouette and ornate elegance. During the shoot, I chose an indoor setting adorned with floral stands and red roses, where warm ambient light cast over the white lace brought out its delicate weave. Because the dress itself is exquisitely intricate, I kept the framing clean to prevent background clutter, utilizing medium close-ups for fabric details and facial nuances, and wide shots framed like classical paintings to outline the full attire's silhouette. Despite the missing props, the visual aesthetic and my personal interpretation of this styling are captured in these frames.