These Convention photo shots of my Blue Archive Shimoe Koharu cosplay in her Qipao outfit are finally ready, and the overall result turned out even better than anticipated. This costume is a black modified qipao featuring a halter neckline with a mandarin collar and frog buttons, retaining classical Chinese elements while the skirt tailoring feels distinctly modern. The keyhole cutout beneath the neckline and pink piping along the edges break up the heaviness of solid black, channeling Koharu's signature playful charm. The golden ornamental buckle and black tassel at the neck add further refined detail to the upper body.
Since this was an on-site Convention photo shoot, the ambient lighting was quite complex; overhead strip lights provided ample illumination but easily cast awkward facial shadows. Special thanks go to the photographer's on-site direction, guiding me to leverage the venue's space and adjust my standing positions. To highlight the character's persona, I styled pink double buns, paired with red colored contacts and soft pink eye makeup, applying generous blush across the cheeks to recreate that slightly flustered yet subtly proud expression.
For pose references, we prepared a black lace folding fan and feather-accented accessories. For the first full-body photo, I chose a standing stance with legs slightly bent and apart, one hand lightly touching the side of my head while the other pinched the white plush stole. This pose maximized the display of the outfit's silhouette. The black wing prop on my back and the pink halo above my head are key styling highlights, while the small pink bows adorning the fluffy white stole added plenty of cute, fluffy charm.
I especially want to highlight the legwear styling: black over-the-knee Stockings paired with platform shoes featuring heart buckles visually elongated my leg lines wonderfully. When taking full-body photos, I turned slightly sideways with one leg positioned forward, using angles to accentuate body proportions while engaging my core to create a flattering curve in the skirt. In the close-up holding the folding fan, I partially veiled my face to focus visual attention on the neckline design and shoulder-neck contours, layered against the wings behind for dimensional depth.
Throughout the shoot, we explored numerous poses, such as gesturing with one hand or lightly lifting the tassel of the stole. These casual-looking gestures actually required arm muscle support to maintain effortless lightness on camera. While platform shoes gave extra height, walking around the venue and holding poses for extended periods was physically demanding; luckily, my energy was great that day, resulting in photos with delicate, crisp texture.
This Qipao outfit for Koharu strikes a great balance between cuteness and a hint of allure, with the combination of black Stockings and a miniskirt translating beautifully into Convention photo frames. For friends wanting to try a similar aesthetic, I recommend interacting with props like fans, stoles, and wings—this gives your hands somewhere to go if you feel camera-shy, making poses much more organic. Stay confident, discover your most flattering angles, and you will capture satisfying results.