[Arknights Shu cosplay] Ethereal Chinese aesthetic: A Gentle Perspective Convention Sharing

For this convention, I brought Shu from Arknights. There are many details about the preparation of this outfit and makeup that I'd like to chat with everyone about. Let's start with the outfit: the entire costume features light mint green and translucent tulle. The outer cardigan uses a sheer, lightweight material aimed at recreating that Ethereal Chinese aesthetic and weightless feeling as if it could flutter with the wind. The embroidery features heavily detailed butterflies and flowers, adorned with pearl tassels and a golden woven ribbon at the waist. It’s actually quite heavy, but to achieve the best look, I definitely had to endure it. The waistband has a two-layer structure, utilizing matching silk and jacquard weaves. The tying method is very particular—it can't be too tight, yet it must ensure the waist textures are fully visible under the lighting.

The hardest part this time was actually the wig. The wig's color transitions from light gold to deep blue; it's not just solid straight hair, and the original volume is quite substantial. The pair of horns on top was custom-made, one gold and one blue, perfectly complementing the dark dragon horns on the sides with a highly three-dimensional shape. Then came the challenge: conventions have massive crowds, and this long straight gradient wig gets tangled incredibly easily. I carried a small bottle of detangling spray with me, lightly spritzing the tips whenever I had a moment, while also trying to keep the wig from flying all over the place.

Looking at the makeup and styling, I used pink-purple eyeshadow smudged across a large area under the eyes for a slightly reddish tint, incorporating glitter for highlights. Paired with this makeup, my gaze naturally appeared much gentler. The hand-painted body art took a lot of effort—drawing purple vine patterns on an orange-yellow base, as if tracing a barrier spell over my hands. This hand-painting took at least an hour because the patterns had to remain intact even when bending my fingers.

During the shoot, I specifically chose a white semi-transparent ribbon as a flowing prop; this material yields a luminous translucency when backlit. The lighting at the convention was actually quite chaotic, but the photographer utilized on-site purple light orbs and floral backgrounds, shooting with a large aperture to turn the background into strings of beautiful bokeh. You can't tell how crowded the venue was at all, and it effectively elevated the Ethereal Chinese aesthetic.

This Convention photos session took quite a while because we had to dodge many passersby, constantly touch up makeup, and adjust costume folds. But upon seeing the final photos, I felt all the hard work was worth it. The character's ethereal nature was beautifully captured. The overall pacing was well-handled; although the pose designs were simple, combined with the gaze, they were more than enough to express the character's unique traits. I hope this clean, elegant style allows viewers to experience the purest state of the character.