This outfit took about three weeks from material selection to pattern making and final completion. The initial color scheme decided was a gradient of yellow, white, and blue, as I really wanted a bright yet cool, detached feel. The headpiece was the most labor-intensive part; the pair of large white ears on top were repeatedly shaped using EVA and plush fabric, with supporting steel wires stuffed inside to keep them upright with a natural curve. Gold foil stickers and light blue acrylic accessories connected the base of the ears, and long ribbons hanging down on both sides swayed gently with body movements, making the dynamic effect even more lively than in static photos. The wig was custom-made with a silver-white gradient and a matte finish. I intentionally didn't apply too much hair wax, preserving the fluffy texture so it wouldn't reflect light artificially under the bright lights of the convention. For makeup, I opted for a small area of orange-red smudging paired with light amber contacts to soften my gaze. The overall makeup didn't need to be heavy, focusing instead on three-dimensional facial contours, because the collar and sleeves of this dress are wide and loose—heavy makeup would make me look like a plastic doll instead.
The fabric chosen was a satin with a pearlescent sheen that absorbs light heavily during Anime-style photography. Fortunately, the anime convention venue had professional studio lighting setups—those black softboxes and stands you see in the background—and once filled with light, the fabric texture came alive, especially the blue color-blocked sections which shimmered with delicate highlights. The hardest parts to craft were the flowing ribbons: six ribbons of varying lengths and widths in front and back, all hand-hemmed with weighted stress points so they could drape into elegant curves when sitting or raising an arm. Shooting day was exhausting because the venue was quite warm, and satin fabric is somewhat stuffy. Maintaining a relaxed posture on the black high stool was tricky. The blue bands tied around my ankles were independent leg-guard decorations; to echo the pom-poms on my shoes, I used ribbons matching the collar color and had to repeatedly adjust the tightness so they wouldn't pinch skin or slip down.
The photo sitting on the floor in image three was a last-minute addition because the photographer wanted a casual feel. I sat directly on the tile floor—luckily I wore safety shorts beneath, so I wasn't worried about wardrobe malfunctions, though I had to find the right angle for my supporting arm so the ribbons wouldn't get creased. The foot traffic at the convention was heavy, with other photographers and passersby walking past constantly, so efficiency during Roaming photography wasn't very high; we could only grab quick shots in brief gaps between crowds. But that's the reality of an anime convention, and the bustling environment actually adds a sense of live presence to the photos. The sleeves feature a bell-bottom design, revealing a large area of the sleeve interior when stretching my arms, which has a layer of white jacquard pattern—though not caught clearly on camera, the physical garment is very exquisite. Although there are only four photos in this return set, each underwent multiple rounds of filtering to keep the most natural angles and poses. I am extremely grateful for the photographer's patience; since I'm not good at posing and sometimes freeze up, it relied heavily on their guidance: 'tilt your head down a bit,' 'raise your hand to show the sleeve.' Ultimately, cosplay feels like a magical portal bringing 2D characters into 3D reality. Though the process is tedious and hard work, every time I see the finished photos—capturing that moment where reality and fantasy blur—I feel all the preparation was entirely worth it.