This styling came about entirely from watching too many mini-dramas lately; imagery of a Miao maiden and an exotic youth kept swirling in my mind, so I simply grabbed my partner to bring this original character design (OC) in Miao ethnic style cosplay to life. Because this was an Original Character without an established canon, the entire styling, makeup, and wardrobe curation flowed purely from our own concepts, making the creative journey wonderfully fun.
I poured immense effort into the female ensemble. For the hairstyle, I crafted an exaggerated high bun adorned with abundant hairpin flowers in pink, blue, and gold accented with ruby jewels. To evoke that spirited charm of a young Miao maiden, I styled straight bangs and let two slender tresses drape naturally over my chest. The garment was a modified gossamer Hanfu set in pastel pink, blue, and yellow; both the billowy sleeves and drape scarves were made of airy, translucent textiles, paired with a choker strung with pearls and jade for added delicate sophistication. The makeup centered around generously diffused blush and a four-pointed star sigil between the brows, with round, soft eye makeup and vibrant red lips designed to merge sweet innocence with an aura of mysterious primal folklore.
My partner's male styling offered a completely different contrast: a mane of silvery-white hair topped with small silver horn accessories at the forehead, radiating an innate exotic mystique. His attire featured striking red-and-black contrast, layering a bold scarlet robe with white embroidery over a black cross-collar inner robe, accented with scaled black arm bracers. The most captivating elements were undeniable: the lavish silver ornaments, from the massive silver neck torc and fringed tassels on his chest to rows of silver coin pendants hanging from his waist, chiming softly with every step. His makeup leaned stern and sharp, intensifying eyeliner definition over a pale porcelain base to carve out crisp, chiseled facial features.
For our location, we picked the ancient architectural complex in front of Mengxing Tower, where carved wooden latticed doors and windows harmonized effortlessly with our attire. Even though we shot outdoors under natural sunlight with a modern security camera humorously intruding nearby, the overarching atmosphere felt remarkably authentic. The shoot was physically demanding—especially for my partner. While those silver ornaments looked magnificent, their sheer weight pressed heavily onto his shoulders, and the black arm bracers lacked breathability, having him break into a sweat within half an hour. On my end, while the dress was ethereal, the towering headpiece was quite heavy; keeping the bun intact meant executing turns and arm raises with delicate care.
Although this started as a personal passion project, from wardrobe sourcing and wig trimming to on-the-day makeup details and scouting locations, every stage aimed to materialize our vision of fusing Miao ethnic costumes with Hanfu makeup and styling. I genuinely adore the final images: they carry both the cultural weight of traditional ethnic dress and the creative liberation of an original character design. Given the chance, I look forward to experimenting with even more stylistic crossovers in the future.