[Vivian cosplay] Zenless Zone Zero Behind-the-Scenes: Studio Daily Life Photobombed by a Cat

These Cosplay behind-the-scenes snapshots of Vivian feel less like a polished photoshoot and more like a documentary of us matching wits with a studio animal.

When I first received this costume design, what I contemplated most was how to convey that slightly languid yet cool and glamorous demeanor. The outfit has an abundance of accessories: starting from the inner white long-sleeved ruffled shirt, the layered cuffs naturally establish the upper body's visual anchor. Layered over it is a black leather-textured vest, which demands a snug fit around the neck and shoulders. The navy-blue bow and metallic ring buckle at the neckline sit right at the visual center, preventing the torso from looking plain.

For the light purple wig, I chose an airy high ponytail style, paired with black ribbon bows on both sides, and the true soul of this styling—the pair of pointed elf ear prosthetics. Applying the elf ears took quite some time; to achieve a seamless, natural edge transition, I repeatedly adjusted foundation shades and application angles until the final effect looked dimensional and natural under the studio ceiling lights.

The layering and tailoring of the lower half are equally noteworthy. This skirt isn't a conventional poofy petticoat, but rather an assembly of a pure white underskirt, an outer skirt spliced with black and navy-blue geometric panels, and metallic buckle belts around the waist and sides. This structured tailoring doesn't passively cling to the legs when seated, but creates sharp, crisp folds instead. The selection of semi-sheer black stockings was also crucial; with a black thigh strap serving as an accent, such subtle details can easily get swallowed in full-body shots if lighting isn't carefully controlled in this Stocking outfit.

Additionally, these shoes deserve special mention. I love the height and curve of the heels; the sturdy block-heel design in front ensures solid balance while standing, while the vibrant purple ribbon straps around the ankles provide the perfect finishing touch. During the behind-the-scenes shoot, I constantly fretted over the tightness of the straps—ensuring they wouldn't dig into my skin while preventing them from slipping down during movement. The black stockings paired with these black patent leather heels introduce purple as an eye-catching pop of color amidst an otherwise black-and-white ensemble, which is one of the main reasons I adore this styling.

Then came the biggest variable in these photos—that little orange cat. When I first met him, he was patrolling his territory around the studio wearing a small red collar. I originally intended to quietly open that large black umbrella patterned with purple triangles and white sprout motifs for some posed shots, when he suddenly lunged out. The photos captured that exact moment of him leaping mid-air; I completely broke character because he was simply too fast for the camera shutter to freeze his motion blur. Afterwards, we moved to the black wooden coffee table nearby, but he refused to settle down—either leisurely pacing under the table corners or perching at the edge of the frame staring intently at my umbrella, as though the umbrella were his rightful prey, making for hilarious Cat content.

In truth, these accidental, candid moments are often far more vivid than rigid poses. In studio shoots, we tend to chase perfect posture and flawless framing, but the cat's sudden appearance injected so much unpredictable vitality into this set. While prepping the wig, I sprayed plenty of setting spray on frizzy strands, fearing studio breezes or the cat's claws might mess up the hair; luckily, our furry little co-star was very restrained and didn't actually try to bite my wig.

The shooting environment that day was a clean cyclorama studio with pristine white walls and floors, free of distractions, which completely showcased the leather sheen, threaded hardware textures, and wig color gradient. Sitting on the wooden frame required mindful posture control—the structure looked delicate, and I tried several poses to find the most relaxed angle. The final curated shots preserved the spontaneous behind-the-scenes charm while locking in that cool yet approachable, lived-in atmosphere I aimed for in this Zenless Zone Zero portrayal.

By the end of the shoot, everyone was feeling a bit exhausted, and the cat finally grew tired and scampered back to the lounge area. Flipping through my phone and stumbling across these photos, I quickly organized and shared them.