[Ruan Mei cosplay] Having a Drink and Experiencing Gentle, Intellectual Leisure Time

This set of Ruan Mei photos was shot in a studio this April, and today I finally organized and posted them. When preparing this styling, I put quite a bit of effort into the wig and makeup. Ruan Mei's pitch-black long hair is styled into an updo; if not handled well, it can look stiff. I specially asked a wig stylist to trim layers, keeping the blunt bangs in the front and the wispy side hair on both sides to flatter the face shape, and with the bright yellow hair accessory on the side, the gentle silhouette emerged. In terms of eye makeup, I chose blue-gray contact lenses, used soft pinkish-brown tones for the eyeshadow, focused on elongating the outer corners of the eyes, and paired it with peach-colored lip makeup, striving to approach that intellectual and gentle temperament.

The details of the costume stand up well to scrutiny. The deep blue inner wear paired with the white asymmetrical shawl features golden piping along the edges and auspicious cloud-like hidden patterns, full of Chinese fantasy colors. The pearl choker on the chest and the cyan and pink tassel Chinese frog buttons are the finishing touches. To match the overall styling, I wore deep blue elbow-length long gloves. In Figure 3, when playing the pipa, this glossy material of gloves placed together with the greenish-blue instrument created a very strong visual impact.

The set design on the shooting day was very sophisticated; dark carved wooden furniture, screens, and the square standing paper lantern emitting a warm yellow glow beside it greatly enriched the frame. To increase color contrast, the scene also featured a green potted plant with red pomegranates and plum blossom branches. The photographer put a lot of thought into the lighting, and the side-backlighting brilliantly illuminated the hair strands and the edges of the clothes.

In the first photo, I'm holding a small white Chinese wine cup while sitting on a wooden chair and looking back, intending to express a relaxed feeling of being slightly tipsy from a small drink, showcasing a more everyday, lifestyle side of the character. The second full-body photo is a composition I really like; under this sideways standing angle, the deep blue high-slit long skirt wonderfully displays the leg lines. Holding a delicate folding fan, paired with the falling light spots and red maple leaves added during post-processing, the atmosphere is instantly maximized, also highlighting the tall figure. The third photo shows me holding the pipa while sitting on a carved wooden chair; to ensure a natural posture, I specifically looked for references before the shoot to practice holding the instrument. The high-slit design happens to reveal the thigh here, matching a slightly lowered gaze, creating a focused yet somewhat languid playing state.

Throughout the shoot, the deepest realization was the mastery of posture. Whether standing or sitting, the shoulders must drop and the back must be straight to hold up the tailoring of this outfit. Movements shouldn't be too large, the force holding the wine cup and folding fan should be light, and the shift of the gaze should be soft. The addition of post-processing effects makes the entire scene more dreamy, with light and shadow falling on fair skin, resulting in a great texture. This set of photos retains the character's original charm and also demonstrates my love for Chinese-style attire. I am truly happy to be able to release such a set of official cosplay photos.