For this shoot, I cosplayed Vivian from Zenless Zone Zero, and I had been looking forward to this blueberry cupcake aesthetic outfit long before receiving it. Since the character's design incorporates elements of fantasy and elegance, I discussed various plans with my makeup artist and photographer in advance regarding props, wig styling, and makeup—especially because the rich layers of this Cosplay outfit require a clean backdrop to truly highlight its texture.
Let's start with the styling details: the wig features a grayish light purple tone, paired with an asymmetrical dark blue hairpiece fixed to the side. Combined with the Elf ears, it gives the facial contours a sharper, more three-dimensional look. For the makeup, focus was placed on elongated eyeliner and softly blended eyeshadow; a cooler palette suited the character's mysterious aura, while a softer milk tea red lip color balanced out the cool undertones.
The main garment is a wide-sleeved white top with subtle light purple pinstripes on the sleeves, a texture that reveals delicate visual depth under the light. The front features a wide-open neckline connected to black leather harness straps—a classic black-and-white contrast. The black, blue, and white bow at the collar serves as the visual centerpiece; to keep it from looking bulky, I reinforced it from the inside. Moving to the waist, the construction and materials are intricate: a glossy black leather corset intertwines with dark blue fabric, though the leather section does test physical endurance in terms of comfort. The skirt features a patchwork design, hiding distressed, jagged gray and black hems beneath white ruffles. This asymmetrical hemline makes it much easier to create dynamic lines and layered silhouettes while moving and posing.
In terms of accessories, the standout element of this Black tights outfit was the leg and footwear combination. Wearing sheer black tights paired with black chunky platform buckle shoes, accented with straps and beaded cords wound around the ankles, not only elongated the lower leg proportions but also made the ankles look remarkably slender in standing poses. Because it was an outdoor shoot on stone pavement, the rigid high heels demanded solid core control to maintain balance when striking single-leg supported poses.
Speaking of props, the massive black-and-purple umbrella is an undeniable eye-catcher. The canopy pattern features a giant floral petal structure in purple and gray, with scalloped edges printed with black bird silhouettes that exude strong gothic flair. With its elongated shaft, the prop effectively segments the composition during full-body shots, preventing the framing from feeling monotonous. However, because the canopy is large, it easily blocks light; tilting it slightly during the shoot allowed natural light to illuminate my face while keeping a sharp, dark silhouette for the umbrella itself.
Regarding poses, we explored several distinct vibes. For the first two sitting shots, I leaned against the stone wall with reserved hand placements, primarily aiming to express a quiet, slightly melancholic contemplative mood. For the following two standing shots, I switched styles. In Photo 3, I adopted a dance-like pose with one leg raised, holding the umbrella handle in one hand while naturally extending my left arm outward. This movement introduced dynamic flow to the skirt and ribbons, creating a livelier visual that maximized the layered details of the Cosplay outfit. Photo 4 features a classic standing stance with one hand on the hip, fingertips lightly resting against my chin while gazing off to the side, blending the outfit's cool edge with subtle playfulness.
The outdoor location was chosen in a vintage courtyard with stone walls and textured wooden gates. The blue stone pavement beneath, paired with green plants and potted foliage in the background, created a soft overall palette that contrasted beautifully with the darker outfit. Because we shot entirely under natural light without harsh artificial fills, post-processing focused slightly on dampening highlights and enhancing shadows, preserving the flowing motion of the wig and the reflective textures of the fabrics. Overall, cosplaying Vivian went smoothly; despite the time-consuming process of wearing the props and costume, it successfully brought out the character's complete persona, making this a highly rewarding outdoor cosplay session.