When I first got this costume in hand, my first reaction was: heavy. Unlike the lightweight cotton and linen I usually wear, this coat with frog buttons and embroidery, combined with the inner turtleneck and black corset, gave a reassuring, snug sense of envelopment as I ran through the ginkgo forest in November. As an undergraduate history major who studied extensive literature on ethnic migrations and wartime conflicts, I deeply empathize with W's backstory. Shooting this graduation photoshoot was, on one hand, fulfilling a personal wish for a graduation cosplay; on the other hand, I truly wanted to give that girl who grew up fighting through the wilderness a "normal" ending—not a Parliament Speaker, not a mercenary, just an ordinary student riding a bicycle to class, listening to Professor Hedley lecture on ancient history, and occasionally wondering "why didn't I take the demolition class?"
On the shoot day, the sunlight was splendid, and the ginkgo leaves were a brilliant, translucent yellow. My photographer friend said that golden light falling on the silver wig paired with the purple robe created a striking contrast. I deliberately made several dynamic spins, letting the coat's hem flare out to reveal the subtle jacquard patterns inside and the black skirt underneath. The horns on the wig were actually quite heavy, attached with hot glue, which pressed against my scalp after long wear, but I endured it to recreate the iconic black, white, and red motifs. That day I also brought a black clipboard as a prop, imagining her flipping through materials in the library or classroom—a brawl-loving yet studious pupil; that conflict in identity was quite fun.
We took hundreds of photos on set. Photo 1 is the most satisfying candid shot: with nothing in my hands, I was in a natural state of "greeting you," leaning slightly off-center where the leg lines in Stockings cosplay caught the sunlight with a soft sheen without looking forced. This effortless relaxation was the exact "everyday life" vibe I wanted. I love W not just for her combat talent, but for that wildness unconstrained by civilization; in a peaceful Terra, she would surely channel that wildness into a thirst for knowledge. When analyzing the texture for this garment, I specifically picked this iridescent deep purple fabric with subtle metallic shimmer under sunlight, highlighting the details both outdoors and under indoor strobes.
As for prejudices like calling her a "fool," I strongly disagree. The most important lesson history taught me is to never judge a person through a single dimension. Being illiterate doesn't mean lacking strategy, and rough speech doesn't mean lacking vision. If she could organize chaotic battlefields into effective tactics, what if she had been placed in a formal educational setting? That's why I shot this series, writing an "if-route" of my own for the character. I layered the costume extensively: beyond the outer robe, the inner black turtleneck kept the wind out, and the skirt had an inner hidden red pleat, making the color transition look gorgeous when walking. For footwear, I chose simple black leather boots that wouldn't steal the spotlight while balancing the robe's opulence.
Autumn is brief. After wrapping up this Ginkgo outdoor shoot, I initially planned a winter mercenary look, but due to thesis work and internship tasks, scheduling didn't work out, so it will have to wait until next year. But at least for now, the aesthetic of these graduation photos has been achieved—sunlight, fallen leaves, scholarly elegance, and an outlander girl willing to live a good life. If you are doing a similar School cosplay style, I strongly recommend shooting between 3:00 and 4:00 PM; the low sun angle creates a radiant halo around the silver wig, and slightly bumping the saturation in post gives the frame a cinematic feel. For the makeup, I deliberately softened the eyeliner and highlighted warm eyeshadow tones to look friendlier—after all, a school student doesn't need to look so fierce. As for poses, besides the open reach in Photo 1, the candid shot in Photo 4 leaning against the tree trunk with head slightly down makes a great avatar, but as a cover, dynamic movement is much more striking. Lastly, huge thanks to our friends who held the reflectors on set—without you, the garment's rich layering couldn't have been captured at all. My history homework is still unwritten, but in this moment, I am truly content.