[Castorice Cosplay] Honkai: Star Rail Outdoor Photography Record Wearing a Sweater in 30°C Heat

Wearing a chunky white off-shoulder sweater in 30°C heat, topped with a thick light purple wig while standing under direct sunlight at a convenience store entrance for a shoot, is truly a bittersweet experience. This time, I cosplayed Castorice from Honkai: Star Rail. Having recently seen the visual promos for the Luckin Coffee collaboration, I thought bringing this fantasy-filled character into a real-life convenience store setting would create a wonderful cross-dimensional collision, which inspired this set of street photos.

In preparing the gear, I specifically chose a light purple short wig and matching contact lenses to capture the character's essence. The purple strands give off a soft halo under the sunlight, which, paired with the elf ear style props, instantly captures her core traits. For makeup, I focused on eye details, using pinkish-purple tones to deepen the eye sockets alongside defined lashes, striving for a look that is both lively and deep.

For the outfit, I adopted a Korean casual-style look to fit the character's temperament. The white hollow cable-knit off-shoulder sweater balances the heaviness while accentuating the shoulder and neck lines. The antler brooch pinned at the collar is a highlight detail of this look, while the blue plaid tie breaks the monotony of pure white, adding depth. Pairing it with a dark plaid skirt on the bottom completes the overall outfit.

I chose a corner outside the convenience store mainly for the reflection effect of the glass window. It reflects the blue sky, white clouds, and distant street views, providing a greater sense of visual extension to the otherwise limited environment. The strong sunlight not only adds transparency to the purple hair and eyes, but also makes the white sweater look crisp and clean.

As a cosplayer doing outdoor photography in hot weather, the biggest challenge is preventing sweat and maintaining an intact base makeup. Before heading out, I used a lot of setting spray and gently pressed tissues when oil or sweat appeared to ensure a clean, clear makeup look in front of the camera, rather than patchy melting makeup caused by the heat. Although wearing a sweater on a 30°C street felt out of place and drew curious glances from passersby, seeing the results in the viewfinder made everything totally worth it.

Regarding expressions and poses, I believe cosplay isn't rigid imitation; it's about adding a touch of personal understanding and vitality while staying true to the character. Thus, in these two photos, I tried a playful clenched fist gesture and a gentle hand-on-cheek pose. These movements show the multifaceted personality of the character while naturally directing the viewer's focus toward my face and outfit.

Actually, this set of photos was taken with a smartphone front camera, so controlling lens distortion was crucial to finding a distance that made my face look compact while showing my shoulders, neck, and accessories completely. Through adjusting angles and light, I experienced the true fun of cosplay creation. Bringing a 2D character into 3D and blending extravagant designs into everyday street scenes creates a fascinating contrast that is a wonder in itself.

Though this brief shoot outside the convenience store couldn't last long due to the weather, capturing several satisfying shots that conveyed Castorice's dynamic charm and mystery made me extremely happy. Immediately after shooting, I ducked into the store to buy a cold drink to cool off—enjoying that relaxed moment outside of cosplaying is the true reality of a cosplayer's summer outdoor shoot.