The silver-gray wig required trimming and styling a day in advance; to prevent frizz, the hair ends were smoothed strand by strand with a flat iron, and the anchor positions of the twintails were repeatedly adjusted to ensure circular ring-shaped loop silhouettes across both sides of the crown. When wearing bright blue contact lenses, the eye makeup needed heavier red blending to anchor the lens color before the camera and evoke a cool, detached gaze. The outfit for this Summer Insect theme is richly layered: the black halter top features metallic rings and strapping details, while the black choker needs to fit snugly against the neckline without being too loose or leaving indentations. The tiered skirt weaves black lace, pleated panels, and bright blue ruffled flounces; each layer had to be smoothed out during dressing—especially the blue sections, which needed voluminous fluffing to create a striking contrast against the black underdress.
The translucent blue fairy wings served as the visual focal point of the styling. Their veins and embedded glitter produce varied refractions under natural sunlight, so the harness tension required precise tuning to avoid leaving harsh marks on my back while ensuring the wings would not collapse when turning or sitting down. The black fishnet fingerless sleeves and leather strap bracers on my arms, along with the black Stockings and crisscross straps along my legs, all demanded meticulous adjustments during wear. Blue bows at the ankles and butterfly ornaments on the shoes not only echoed the overarching color scheme but also introduced delicate, playful accents. Black Stockings paired with platform shoes visually elongated the leg lines; while posing, I deliberately crossed my legs or turned them sideways to showcase the contours formed by the stockings and strappy shoes.
The location chosen was an outdoor metal staircase shaded by lush green foliage. The grayish-blue metal treads and railings carried a modern edge, creating a vivid cool-and-warm contrast against the dense greenery. Daylight was abundant on shoot day, filtering through tree leaves to cast dappled patterns. To harness this natural light, photographer Zhu.SAMA dedicated great thought to framing—exploring eye-level, low-angle, and high-angle overhead shots. Standing on the stairs, the metallic railings provided excellent foreground framing to enhance depth of field. For seated shots, spreading the multi-tiered skirt over the steps while keeping my upper body erect required engaged core stability. Leaves served as props; whether held in hand or obscuring half the face, they deepened the interaction between model and environment.
In terms of motion design, overly intricate dance movements were unnecessary; mood was conveyed primarily through the eyes and hand gestures. Raising one hand to gaze up through gaps in the foliage or glancing back over the shoulder while seated on the steps beautifully highlighted the back cutouts and full wing silhouette. Navigating stair steps in high heels demanded extra caution while keeping postures effortless and light before the lens. Rather than rigid posing, the shoot felt like an immersive woodland story, where the natural breath of lush trees collided with the black-and-blue Gothic tailoring to spark a quiet, mystical chemistry.
In post-processing, the color grade preserved the lush emerald environment while boosting the saturation of the garment's blues and blacks. Every shutter press adapted to the immediate sunlight and breeze. Through the visual lens, the Summer Insect concept portrayed a cool, poised aura within flourishing vitality—standing or sitting quietly was enough to harmonize with the surrounding nature. Special thanks to 花见づ for the exquisite makeup and styling, and to Zhu.SAMA for capturing the frames, allowing this intricately layered 2D look to be preserved in this way.