[Shiki Natsume Cosplay] Café Stella and the Reapers' Butterflies: Taking You to the True Heaven

In the setting of Café Stella and the Reapers' Butterflies, Shiki Natsume's iconic look has always been something I've wanted to try. This time, I finally realized this idea and booked a white studio photography session. A pure white background actually demands a lot from the costume's texture; without the concealment of a scene, all details are exposed under the lens.

The blue and white maid outfit chosen this time finds its biggest highlight in its sense of layering. The upper body features a navy blue long-sleeved top with ruffles on the shoulders, paired with a bright yellow large bow tie at the neckline, instantly brightening the overall color tone. The pure white apron part in the middle has its deep blue piping edges and bottom pleats handled very meticulously; it is not a flimsy material but can hold a certain shape, allowing it to capture highly three-dimensional layers under light and shadow. The blue main skirt at the bottom is stitched with a white ruffled hem, showcasing a fluid aesthetic beauty when moving around.

Standing at a fixed point on the high white platform was actually harder to control than expected because the platform surface is tiny, and one has to balance both the standing posture and the lifting of the skirt hem. I specially selected these frames that showcase the leg lines and white over-the-knee socks; white long socks are truly the soul of this kind of maid styling, both extending the leg visuals and maintaining a clean, refreshing tone overall. The action of lifting the skirt in the photos is actually to present the natural wrinkles of the skirt hem; only when more of the leg lines are revealed does the overall composition avoid looking stiff, which better matches the sense of tension I wanted to present.

To restore that slightly playful yet composed feel of Shiki Natsume, I made a slight distinction in expressions—some carry a tiny hint of a smile when lifting the skirt and spinning, while others feature saluting and waving in front of the lens, attempting to capture different sides of her personality. During the shoot, the cooperation with the photographer was excellent, constantly adjusting the draping angle of the skirt hem and the position of the platform. Honestly, every time I shoot this kind of character, the biggest challenge for me is the continuity of movements, because you cannot stay frozen completely still, but rather have to genuinely move around as if you were that character. Therefore, these photos are actually captured moments in motion, rather than pure staged posing.

This is exactly the correct way to open a white studio photography session—the light is uniform, clear, and bright, perfectly preserving the color saturation of the garment itself. What I am personally most satisfied with is the part where the skirt hem and the stockings correspond with each other, with highly distinct layers. Looking at the final cuts, I feel as if I have truly stepped into the world of Café Stella and the Reapers' Butterflies, and this sense of immersion is also the greatest joy that casual cosplay brings to me. From doing makeup and styling, arranging the straight bangs, to the moment I put on this outfit and stood on the round platform, it felt as if Shiki Natsume herself was interacting with everyone.

Let me add a few more small details from the shoot. Staying balanced on a high platform is truly an art; when the center of gravity is unstable, the skirt hem drifts randomly, especially when stepping on a smooth white platform surface, making it very easy to slip. The photographer suggested that I try lifting the skirt hem to let the white fabric spread out, displaying the white over-the-knee socks on the lower body, which not only provides a strong visual contrast between dark and light colors but also forms a relatively stable triangle in the composition. Photography also demands a lot from the lighting because a white studio easily causes overexposure in the highlight sections of the clothing, so we specially used a softbox in front of the figure when lighting to preserve the texture details of the fabric as much as possible.

This time, both the restoration level of the costume and the cooperation of the photography made me highly satisfied. If I had to name the point that struck me the most about this outfit, it must be the large yellow bow tie at the neckline paired with the overall navy blue and pure white color scheme. Although the scene is simple with only a white studio and a high platform, it is precisely this blank space that conversely sets off the character's traits even better. From selecting the character to preparing the clothes, and then actually walking into the studio, the entire process was extremely fulfilling. The world setting of Café Stella and the Reapers' Butterflies is filled with a warm and healing atmosphere, and I hope these photos can convey that exact feeling as well.