[Wang Zhaojun cosplay] Detailing the Ice and Snow Theme Convention Photos

The convention photos from the Chengdu Worldline Animation and Comic Exhibition are finally sorted out! This ice and snow themed costume for Wang Zhaojun took considerable thought in terms of materials and wearability, so this photo set is a great opportunity to share the behind-the-scenes details.

First, talking about the overall garment structure: the top features a white form-fitting corset design, embedded across the bodice and waistline with numerous metallic snowflake ornaments and centered with blue gemstone accents. To keep the corset upright and structured, multiple internal lining layers were added for support. The white plush collar at the neckline and the plush arm warmers share the same fluffy material; they feel very soft to the touch, but a notable challenge is that faux fur attracts dust and stray fibers very easily at an outdoor anime expo, requiring repeated lint rolling each time it was put on or taken off. The outerwear is a floor-length hooded cloak made of thick white faux fur on the outside with deep blue satin lining underneath. To recreate the substantial presence from the game, the cloak was made quite large and trailed along the ground, lending an imposing grandeur to full-body shots. However, moving through the crowded venue required extra vigilance to prevent it from getting stepped on or caught on neighboring booths.

The lower half consists of a pale blue skirt paired with white over-the-knee Stockings adorned with faint blue butterfly patterns near the upper band. Paired with deep blue platform high-heeled ankle boots, this combination visually elongated the leg proportions.

The staff prop was honestly the most exhausting element to manage. The shaft of the staff is bright blue, while the head is crafted from a large pale blue translucent material encircled by silver-white spiral flourishes and dotted with small snowflakes. The staff is quite tall with a top-heavy balance, easily tipping forward when held with one hand for posing, which demanded continuous wrist tension. To keep the staff from looking weightless on camera, I kept my hand close to my thigh or hip, engaging my core to stabilize it.

For hair and makeup, the ice-blue wig was curled beforehand with a curling iron to set its waves, and the plush hair ornament on top was reinforced with multiple layers of bobby pins and hairspray. The pale blue snowflake crest right in the center of the forehead was hand-painted using a blend of gel eyeliner and blue eyeshadow; because the weather was somewhat warm, several coats of setting spray were applied to ensure it wouldn't smudge. The makeup focused heavily on the eyes, deepening eyeshadow dimensions to pair with grey-blue colored contacts, striving to capture that cold, aloof elegance.

The location was chosen along a lakeside flagstone path just outside the expo venue. By that point, dusk had already fallen and natural light was very dim. The photographer used powerful strobes for frontal key lighting while retaining the dark clouds in the sky and the distant city lights in the background. This contrast of warm and cool tones gave the composition dimensional depth, though the intense light easily risked blowing out the white faux fur highlights, prompting constant fine-tuning of flash output and angles.

Shooting Convention photos in the evening was under tight time pressure as temperatures dropped rapidly at dusk. Although the costume includes faux fur, the corset and skirt portions are fairly light; between takes, I quickly wrapped myself in a heavy jacket and only shrugged it off when the photographer called for action. While posing, I also had to make sure the plush cloak didn't swallow too much of the body silhouette, finding clean angles to separate the staff's outline from my figure.

Though exhausting throughout, seeing the texture of metal hardware and plush fur pop under the lights in the final Convention photos made all the preparation feel completely worthwhile.