[Saber Cosplay] Fate Series Blue and Black Battle Dress Shoot Documentary

This time I cosplayed Saber from the Fate series. To be frank, this styling integrated many of my own cosplay habits in terms of makeup and costume. For the eye makeup, to match the blonde hair, I selected emerald green contacts. Highlights were applied quite heavily, which has always been a personal obsession of mine. Although once studio flashes hit, highlights are often flattened into a matte look that requires fixing in post-processing light and shadow retouching, I still couldn't resist applying several extra layers before stepping in front of the lens. However, I specially adjusted the width of my double eyelid tape this time, which turned out to be a bit of a mishap—it was taped too wide, making my eyelids look droopy in photos as if I had sleepy ptosis. This is definitely something to avoid in the future.

I was quite satisfied with the costume's tailoring; the dark blue satin material came with its own natural sheen. The black tulle splicing and lace embroidery around the collar were very detailed, and the silver teardrop pendant in the center created a concentrated visual highlight for the chest, drawing eyes naturally toward the neck and collarbones. Combined with long black gloves, the sense of ritual in this ensemble was fully maxed out. On my legs, I wore light-colored stockings extending down to the ankles, paired with a delicate silver anklet. This small detail in this stocking outfit was very useful for full-body studio shots, making the leg lines look cleaner and sleeker.

For this shoot, a cool-toned studio was selected, decorated with white angel statues and an abundance of blue and white artificial flowers. A vintage golden picture frame leaned against the background, complemented by white candles. The atmosphere was indeed fairytale-like without being overly sweet, carrying a cool distant vibe that fit the visual impression of this blue garment well. When posing for the second full-body picture, I sat diagonally on a white round stool, holding the prop sword in my right hand. The sword hilt featured an antique bronze metallic texture, carrying a noticeable weight quite different from typical lightweight plastic props. Holding the sword made me worried about the tip snagging my black tulle gloves—since that fabric snags easily—so I had to adjust my hand position to keep the blade tilted slightly outward.

Honestly, regarding OOC (out of character), doing such classic characters always brings immense pressure. After all, the original character's aura leans more toward a stern, commanding presence. I made some personalized adjustments in cosplay makeup and styling—such as applying blush closer to the under-eye area in a pinker tone and blending red eyeshadow, giving the overall aura a softer touch. That's why I included an OOC apology in advance when posting. In Cosplay, I feel that preserving a bit of one's own style or current makeup preferences on top of faithful recreation is also a valid way to create photos. After all, everyone's face shape and features differ; forcing a 100% match with original artwork from anime or live-action often makes the makeup look stiff and unnatural instead.

Frankly, this slightly dark and glamorous blue dress really tests on-site studio lighting. The lighting in Figure 2 was relatively soft, showing the satin reflections of the fabric nicely, whereas the daily selfie in Figure 1 had its highlights washed out completely due to an overly strong flash. Additionally, the costume had a minor drawback: although the collar's sheer tulle looked great, clear plastic shoulder straps were added at the shoulder area. While practical for anti-exposure, close-up shots revealed noticeable splicing seams. Next time I do a similar look, I will communicate with the tailor in advance to switch to invisible straps.

The weather has been quite hot recently, making it rather stuffy to wear this in the studio, especially with the black fabric around the collar clinging tightly to the neck and causing sweat. By the time we wrapped up, the wig was a bit messy, and the bangs were sticking to my forehead from sweat. However, every time I see the finished photos, that sense of accomplishment washes away the exhaustion. Organizing styling, selecting photos, and color grading—every step is a process of concrete expression for my understanding of the character. While I wouldn't claim this set is a 100% likeness, to me, it serves as a meaningful practice and studio photoshoot share showcasing my everyday aesthetics and makeup skills. Ultimately, Figure 2 was chosen as the cover because its pose, combined with leg and anklet details set against the flower-filled background, offered a balanced composition that represents the fruit of this shoot.