This time I cosplayed Nico from Zenless Zone Zero (Nico cosplay), capturing this series of mirror selfies right around the time of the Zenless Zone Zero Equalizing Test. I've always loved this character's design; the pink twintails paired with a sharp techwear outfit perfectly fit my preferred style of crisp swagger mixed with playful charm, so I arranged this wig and costume without hesitation.
Starting with the wig, Nico's pink twintails actually have high demands for volume and fluffiness. When I received the wig, I deliberately re-trimmed the bangs and adjusted the claw clip placement of the twintails to ensure they looked natural and substantial in the mirror. The black ribbon bow accessory on the top of the head is the finishing touch; fixing it slightly toward the back prevents it from looking top-heavy while aligning the overall silhouette closely with the character's 2D illustration.
The coordination and dressing process of the costume was slightly tricky, mainly due to the black off-shoulder leather jacket and detached arm sleeves. The yellow rivets on the sleeves are certainly eye-catching, but they also add noticeable weight, causing some resistance during arm movement; however, to faithfully recreate the character's biker aesthetic, these styling trade-offs were well worth it. The inner white tube top with black diagonal stripes not only visually cinches the waistline, but also creates a striking contrast with the black jacket. What satisfied me most was the black shorts on the bottom—the white plush trim around the edges beautifully neutralizes the ruggedness of the leather jacket, adding an adorable touch. Cinched at the waist with two studded belts, rich layered dimension emerged instantly.
The shooting setup this time was relatively simple—mirror selfies in front of a full-length mirror at home. In Photo 1, I sat down and angled slightly sideways to emphasize leg proportions and overall outfit coordination; this kind of seated posture is relatively relaxed, matching the character's effortless, easygoing vibe in the game. In Photo 2, I switched to a half-kneeling/crouching pose. This angle truly tested the stability of the props and costume, as larger movements easily expose creases in hems or leather pieces. Fortunately, the shorts had structured tailoring, and the leather straps on the Over-the-knee socks outfit held everything firmly in place without shifting. Personally, I lean toward Photo 2 as the cover because the pose has greater tension, highlights more leg lines, and the pairing of over-the-knee socks with chunky platform boots elongates the legs while focusing the subject's center of gravity right in the middle of the frame without distracting clutter.
Throughout the shoot, what received the most attention was prop adjustments and expression control. Although it was a mirror selfie with my eyes focused on the glass, I deliberately adjusted my head angle to give the layered framing of the black neck gaiter more depth, striving to align my expression with Nico's confident, slightly tsundere demeanor. For lighting, we relied on indoor natural light without heavy artificial lighting, preserving the subtle shimmer of the leather and the soft pink tone of the wig so the overall palette didn't feel overly cold.
In truth, doing cosplay is not only about recreating game characters, but also a test of one's hands-on craftsmanship and aesthetic judgment. From styling the wig and tweaking costume details to ultimately discovering that perfect character state in front of the mirror, every step requires care. After playing Zenless Zone Zero during the Equalizing Test, I resonated deeply with the character of Nico, and decided to express my love for the game in the 3D world through this Nico cosplay. This outfit is still hanging on my rack today, and every time I look back at these photos, I can vividly recall the atmosphere of that test phase.