The concept for this Iochi Mari Qipao look has actually been in my mind for a long time, and I finally brought it fully to life today. Being deeply fond of Trinity's design aesthetic, when custom-ordering the costume, I deliberately selected a pure white base accented with vivid bright blue trim. This crisp, refreshing palette gracefully sets off the character's temperament. The tailoring was also adjusted—the sleeveless cut and waist ruched pleating not only enhance the outfit's dimensional layering, but also give the character a vibrant, energetic silhouette. Topped with a golden sun halo headpiece, an orange twintails wig, and a pair of fluffy cat ears, the overall look achieved an exceptionally high level of polish.
For makeup, the focus was squarely on defining the eyes. I wore bright blue contact lenses and dusted fine glitter across the corners of my eyes, so that when turning my head under studio lights, my gaze looked radiantly luminous. Managing the wig also required plenty of care, especially the transition where the cat ears meet the hair strands, where I used small white floral hairpins for seamless blending and masking, making the styling look far more natural. For the lower half, I paired it with over-the-knee White stockings, which beautifully elongated the visual lines of my legs in seated and kneeling poses while enriching the visual breathing room of the composition.
For the set design, we took a vintage Chinese aesthetic approach. The backdrop featured a folding screen painted with plum blossoms and soaring birds set on a wooden base, evoking a serene, classical atmosphere. Prop preparation was equally thorough—whether holding the floral round fan or cradling the wooden plucked string instrument, both were chosen to infuse storytelling into the frames. When shooting poses with the instrument, to achieve the most harmonious angle between the wrist and the neck of the pipa, we repeatedly adjusted hand positioning. Not being an actual musician, I had to carefully observe center of gravity and joint curvature so the posture followed basic physical logic without looking stiff. The pink lotus prop and bead strings resting on the wooden platform also offered subtle color accents, breaking up any monotony in the expansive white-and-blue scheme.
The lighting on set leaned toward warm tones; falling across the white costume and White stockings, it not only rendered a soft, delicate texture, but created a vivid contrast with the cool-toned backdrop screen. To prevent warm lighting from casting an excessive yellow tint on the orange hair, we specifically dialed in the facial lighting ratio, preserving high-key glints along the hair strands to keep the colors translucent. Kneeling on hard wooden floorboards for extended stretches restricted circulation, forcing me to pause and stretch several times, but seeing the resulting leg lines and balanced compositions on camera made every hardship worthwhile. Although the fabric appears crisp and structured, sitting for long inevitably causes creasing, so during breaks I carefully smoothed out the skirt's fluidity to ensure pristine detail. From preliminary wardrobe and prop prep to on-set lighting calibration, every step demanded sincere dedication. This shoot was not merely a showcase of the character's image, but a test of meticulous detail control. I adore this modified 2D Qipao styling infused with classical Chinese elegance, and hope the finished photos bring everyone a refreshing visual experience.