[Exusiai cosplay] Exusiai the New Covenant Convention Attendance Log (Arknights)

From picking accessories to the final makeup look, putting together this Exusiai the New Covenant gear took nearly a month back and forth. The red wig was cut and styled multiple times to finally achieve this fluffy, slightly messy look. For the base makeup, I chose a clear matte finish, and gave my eyebrows a noticeable red tint so the crimson hair wouldn't look out of place. Earth tones were used for the eyeshadow to define the contours, topped with fine shimmer. The eyeliner was drawn long, which, combined with red contact lenses, created a character fidelity closer to the anime aesthetic. The wig was custom-made, requiring significant effort to shape the curves of the bangs and sideburns.

Carrying this gear and props around the convention hall that day was truly a test of stamina. The prop gun looked very badass, but the weight of the solid wood and metal components made my arms ache for quite a while. To stay steady before the camera, I adjusted my gun-holding posture numerous times. The black jacket had a distressed, weathered finish on the surface, and the metal chest badges needed to be securely pinned. The tying technique of the waist cloth referenced original illustrations. After putting on the White stockings, the tension of the thigh garter had to be carefully adjusted—pinching too tight makes legs look thicker, while too loose makes it slide down. The skirt hem wrinkles easily and had to be steamed beforehand.

During the shoot, the backdrop was the Arknights booth; the neon signage and cyan spheres made great backgrounds. Since venue lighting was complex, I communicated extensively with the photographer regarding angles and exposure to keep the frames clean. The second half-body close-up had razor-sharp focus, while the first full-body shot clearly showed overall proportions and leg details. Because the outfit's leg design is very eye-catching, I specifically adjusted my standing angle—resting my weight naturally on the right leg while bending the left leg to showcase the texture of the over-the-knee White stockings. The weight of the gun prop forced me to watch my elbow angles so I wouldn't look stiff. The second eye-contact shot was a candid capture while I was shifting my center of gravity, which turned out exceptionally natural.

Many fellow fans on site recognized the character, making interactions super joyful. Prop maintenance and costume packing were quite a hassle, but expressing something I love made it all worthwhile. Since I have a slender build, shoulder pads were added inside to support the jacket, though this felt slightly stuffy in the warm convention hall. Still, the final look was very satisfactory. With heavy foot traffic, queuing for photos took a while, during which I met many talented photographers whose posing guidance made me look much more in tune with the character's habits. Small details like White stockings truly test the harmony of the entire outfit, so I kept an eye on smoothing out the socks during shooting.

Receiving the finished photos, the first one is my favorite—it captures that confident, slightly playful moment. The second shot strengthens the sense of eye contact. The crimson hair looked lustrous under the lighting, creating a striking contrast with the black-and-white garments. My key takeaway from this experience is that convention outfits must not only look good but also allow easy movement; the waist ties had to be adjusted multiple times to feel comfortable. Chatting with passing players about character lore felt very fulfilling. Though the gun looked awesome, it was indeed heavy, and holding it for long tested arm strength. Overall, it was a wonderful experience; if given the chance, I'd cosplay this again, though perhaps with a lighter backup weapon. I hope to find more suitable settings for this design in the future. Looking back on the entire process, from entering at 9:00 AM to leaving in the afternoon, having the wings pinched against my back left the skin slightly red after several hours, but wearing this costume and standing before that familiar backdrop made everything worthwhile. This experience deepened my understanding of convention shooting, and I look forward to the next photoshoot!