Today I met a fellow enthusiast at KFC, and it really makes one sigh at how such a shy and cute existence can be. I've been pondering this makeup and styling for Zenless Zone Zero Sunna lately, and today I finally had the opportunity to wear it out for a walk in a casual street style scene. To be honest, this outfit has a lot of details, especially the blue-and-yellow large bell collar, as well as the pink-and-white spliced clothing structure. To restore that unique texture of anime cosplay, I adjusted the fabric selection and pattern making back and forth several times. Managing the wig is also a technical job; if the mint green color isn't tuned quite right, it will look cheap, so I specially chose a color with a slight grey tone and made the fluffiness of the twintails very full, so that whether taking selfies or being photographed by others, it can maintain a great sense of volume.
In terms of makeup, to restore that shy and cute aura, my base makeup was applied quite translucent, focusing on strengthening the blending area of facial blush, matched with cyan-green contact lenses, creating a slightly pitiful and touching atmosphere. The heart-shaped sunglasses and the small horn decorations on the head are also the finishing touches; wearing them instantly gave it a soul. In fact, I was a bit apprehensive before coming out today, worried that doing anime cosplay in a casual street style scene would feel awkward, but I didn't expect there to be any awkwardness at all in KFC; instead, there was a kind of joy in breaking the dimensional wall. Wearing heart-shaped sunglasses to eat and take selfies in the store, although slightly inconvenient—such as being careful not to touch the lip makeup when drinking beverages, and that big bell swinging back and forth with movements making crisp sounds—this immersive experience is really wonderful. When getting the peripheral cup printed with the character's pattern, there was truly a trance-like feeling of dimensions intersecting.
Many people ask me why I like to cosplay such characters. In fact, it's not just because of the cute appearance, but more because when pondering the character's personality, I can find a kind of emotional resonance. That shyness is not timidity, but a unique softness and resilience. Meeting someone who recognized a fellow enthusiast in the store today, the feeling of exchanging smiles was especially heartwarming. Doing location shoots or casual street style anime cosplay is actually a great test of physical strength and patience; from touch-ups to organizing accessories, and then to adjusting shooting angles, every step requires a lot of energy. To find good lighting, we held up our mobile phones in the corner to try several angles, and also had to pay attention to the gaze of surrounding passersby, which in itself is a very interesting social experience.
However, being able to bring the character you love into the real world, even if it's just spending an ordinary afternoon in a fast-food restaurant, this experience itself is irreplaceable. Looking at the photos left in the camera, they are not only the crystallization of the character, but also the wonderful imprint I left in this dimension myself. Every time I do anime cosplay, it is a reinterpretation and approximation of the character. From the tailoring of the clothing to the details of the makeup, every step pours in painstaking effort, and the final presentation effect is the best reward for this love. In the future, I will continue to carry my love for the characters, trying more different styles of outfits and scenes. Whether in studio photography or in casual street style alleys, I will interpret every character with heart. Today was truly a fulfilling and happy day, and I hope this happiness can also be conveyed through the pictures.