As soon as the news of the Genshin Impact and Luckin Coffee collaboration came out, my friend who cosplays Clorinde (Clorinde cosplay) and I immediately made plans for an offline store visit. But after seeing the announced list of locations, our hearts sank—only Ningbo had an official themed store. For players like us living in non-tier-1 smaller cities, we couldn't experience that immersive collaboration atmosphere at all. Since we couldn't visit a themed store, we decided to create our own vibe! We chose a regular Luckin Coffee store with nice lighting, brought our prepared outfits and the collaboration bags, and kicked off this special check-in photoshoot.
Speaking of this Sigewinne cosplay outfit, the details truly tested our patience. The blue-and-white maid-style dress—from the ruffles on the chest to the tiered skirt hem, along with the visually striking massive white bow on the back and the fluffy pom-pom tail—carries immense volume. The hardest part of portraying this character is supporting the garment's shape: not only did I need to wear a proper petticoat underneath, but I also had to carefully balance the position of the bunny ears on the wig. Holding the Luckin Coffee collaboration cup in hand, even though the store decor was ordinary, holding the official themed cup sleeve finally gave me a slight tangible feel of the collaboration.
By contrast, Clorinde's look was even more capable and elegant. A basic white dress shirt paired with an iconic purple necktie and a form-fitting black pencil miniskirt on the bottom. The most eye-catching feature of this skirt is the gold chain at the waist and asymmetric button detailing, which, when paired with long legs in a Stocking outfit and high-heeled leather shoes, fully accentuated the character's calm, cool demeanor. Because my friend has amazing proportions, the fidelity of this Clorinde cosplay was incredible. Shooting by the glass window using reflections and natural light, we did our best to avoid messy silhouettes of other customers in the store, showcasing the fabric textures and character presence of both outfits.
However, speaking of the actual experience of this Genshin Impact Luckin Coffee collaboration, to be honest, it was a bit disappointing. It simply couldn't compare to the massive KFC collaboration before. Back during the KFC event, the stores were filled with posters and standees, and the staff could even recite secret codes or character lines accurately—the immersion was maxed out. In contrast, this Luckin Coffee collaboration in smaller cities felt merely like launching a standalone merch meal set. When we ordered at the store, many staff members didn't even know which two characters were featured in the collaboration. When packing our order, the merch bags were handed out randomly without any ceremonial exclusivity. We also heard cases of mistaken or missing items happening frequently; this lackluster atmosphere was genuinely discouraging.
But as Genshin Impact players and passionate cosplay enthusiasts, facing this somewhat perfunctory event didn't spoil our mood. Because rather than the grandeur of the event itself, what is truly precious is the process of spending time preparing and experimenting together with friends for a shared passion. Walking down the street or sitting in a coffee shop in full costume naturally draws curious glances from passersby, but this experience of breaking out of routine life is precisely where the unique charm of Cosplay lies.
This time, we got the Sigewinne and Clorinde collaboration acrylic keychains, along with the illustrated bags, making the trip well worthwhile. During the shoot, we tried several compositions, like casual chatting while seated on high bar stools or solo close-ups holding the merch. Even though the background was just a regular Luckin Coffee store, through showcasing garment details, the Stocking outfit, and matching footwear, we still maximized the charm of both characters. We hope the official team will consider players in other cities more in future collaborations. Although there was no lavish themed store decor, the experience was deeply fulfilling—a heartfelt creative entry for my passion for Genshin Impact and cosplay.