Sorting time after a studio shoot often makes one reflect even more than the shooting process itself; in the moments frozen by the photographer's shutter, shifts in body gravity often hide the most authentic exhaustion and relaxation. This time in the studio, to complement the theme of Retro elements, I specially picked this deep blue modified cheongsam, which, paired with gold thread embroidery textures, shows lovely dark pattern details under studio strobes.
In terms of styling details, the hairstyle featured an asymmetrical bun design—one side falling loose while the other was tied up—which, paired with that blue-purple hair accessory, neutralized the cheongsam's maturity and added a touch of playfulness. Controlling expressions during the shoot actually required significant focus, as the mandarin collar design was somewhat restrictive, requiring me to maintain shoulder and neck lines constantly to avoid looking slouchy.
The most interesting part during the shoot was presenting two completely distinct seated postures. In the first photo, white stockings were paired with black patent leather shoes; everyone might think I was intentionally maintaining this dignified look, and indeed at the start I wanted to maximize that sense of restraint. The real shift happened in the second photo: because continuous shooting reached the latter half and my energy was somewhat exhausted, I simply kicked off the black leather shoes to switch to a Black tights outfit with bare feet, completely relaxing my waist into the chair back—unexpectedly capturing an authentically flowing sense of ease.
It so happened that the inspiration for this theme came from the retro atmosphere in Blue Archive; although the character's name isn't explicitly mentioned in the text, that subtle aura wandering between dignity and languor was precisely the soul I wanted to capture most in this Chinese-style cosplay shoot. Lao Suda suggested I hang the jacket half-on, half-off around my elbows, a trick that felt much richer in narrative than wearing it neatly, like a trench coat casually thrown on before heading out.
Coordinated with the suitcase prop, the wooden chair provided a great fixed fulcrum; I first sat upright, then gradually shifted my center of gravity toward the armrest, recording a complete emotional progression from restraint to release.
After finishing this shoot, my biggest feeling was actually that comfortable clothing relaxes you far more than mere good looks; clothing tailoring needs to fit the body while leaving room to breathe. The gold thread embroidered pattern exhibited varying reflective effects under changing light, which I was super satisfied with. Although wearing a cheongsam isn't truly as leisurely as having afternoon tea, adjusting seated angles and gaze directions indeed allows one to tell different stories frame by frame in this Cheongsam photoshoot. The benefit of studio work lies in light controllability; Lao Suda shot very meticulously, showcasing costume quality and fabric textures thoroughly.
Overall, this attempt balanced retro vibes with ACG interpretation; once makeup, hair, and props were coordinated, the character's aura instantly emerged the moment I put it on. Although studio work is tiring and adjusting angles required many repetitions, seeing those captured images with just the right micro-expressions and body language made all prior persistence feel worth it. The returned photos didn't need heavy Studio retouching, preserving that straight-out-of-camera texture; I believe the harmony of light, shadow, and color is already enough to present the unique aesthetic this outfit intended to express.