[Meltryllis Cosplay] Looking Back at the Penguin Styling from Six Years Ago, It Still Feels Filled with a Rich Sense of Design

Digging out this set of penguin-styled Meltryllis photos taken six years ago, looking back at them, I still feel that the completion rate of the overall design plan back then was very high. On the basis of the Fate/Grand Order setting, it not only retained the core characteristics of the character but also integrated the highly unique jacket element of a penguin, forming this visual effect that balances both coldness and cuteness.

Let's first look at the specific details of the costume, makeup, and props. The three-dimensional, rounded orange beak on top of the head, along with the bright blue ribbon tied to the side, serves as the visual crowning touch of the entire outfit. Combined with the wide black-and-white patchwork outerwear, the overall silhouette beautifully simulates the charmingly naive posture of a penguin. The fabric of the jacket uses a material with a certain sheen, making the monotonous black-and-white color scheme look less dull. The inner layer is a black triangular top with thin shoulder straps, paired with that blue choker with a tiny pendant around the neck; within this loose, daily outfit, it greatly preserves the charm and sexy temperament inherent to the character itself, balancing the heavy feel of the jacket.

In terms of makeup and hair, the short purple hair with straight bangs forms a highly harmonious color combination with the conspicuous blue-green colored contacts. Combined with the orange-leaning lipstick embellishment, the colors on the face are distinctly layered. The styling with sunglasses in Picture 1 concentrates the visual center of gravity on the upper half of the face, carrying a hint of mystery and a lazy atmosphere; while in Picture 2 after removing the sunglasses, the sharpness of the gaze and the vividness of the makeup are entirely laid bare, showing clearly how well the makeup aligns with the character. During the shooting process, to highlight the three-dimensional feel of the penguin hood and the facial features, the studio lighting was cast relatively softly and evenly without overly complex light setups, focusing more on capturing the character's expressions, which also made the frame present a bright and clean state for this piece of Cosplay photography.

Speaking of the remake plan for this work, it indeed faces some realistic difficulties now. As someone who has been involved in Roleplay and cosplay for many years, whenever my skills progress or my aesthetic concepts shift, I always want to turn back and remake those works that weren't perfectly presented due to conditional limitations back then. However, the uniqueness of this penguin jacket makes it very difficult to find a ready-made identical item on the market today that matches the design pattern of that year, and manufacturers rarely release such replicas. If I look for a tailor to custom-make it based on pictures, it's highly difficult to balance the pattern, fabric texture, and the supported three-dimensional shape. Therefore, flipping through these old photos leaves me with somewhat mixed feelings—satisfied with the outcome of the shoot back then, yet feeling a bit helpless about the current difficulty in remaking a superior version.

Looking at it with today's eyes, the photography equipment from six years ago might not match today's gear in terms of edge sharpness and color latitude, but this set of photos still vividly froze the creative atmosphere and passion of that time. From preparing the wig and colored contacts to dealing with this jacket that isn't easy to put on or take off, every single step tested my patience heavily. Engaging in cosplay is actually a concrete way of living out an Anime-style fashion and 2D lifestyle; every time I change outfits, it's not just a recreation of the character's visual elements, but more of a self-expression and resonance with the character's soul.

The unique design aspect of this penguin styling lies in combining the bulky, cute avian outer shell with the exquisite, charming character itself, producing a wonderful sense of mismatched aesthetic. Keeping these photos carefully collected as an archive of my anime life serves both as organizing my photo album and revisiting past creative insights. I hope there will be a suitable opportunity in the future, whether it's buying a ready-made outfit or finding a reliable customization, to present this look again with a better face. Every remake is a brand-new review of my understanding of the character, as well as a continuation of my own cosplay career.