[Xishi cosplay] Honor of Kings: Lingering Longing, a Chinese-Style Cosplay Wander in a Sea of Flowers

I am personally very satisfied with the final texture achieved in this Xishi: Lingering Longing styling. The outfit features numerous tiers—from the outer sheer gossamer to the inner skirt hem, along with the acrylic waist pendants and the mask motif at the chest—all requiring constant repositioning during the shoot to ensure the light filtering through the fabric looked its best from every angle. When I first received the costume, I closely studied the palette and fabric textures of the original character art and found that the combination of pink-and-white gradients with gold edging shines brightest under natural daylight, which was why I deliberately selected an outdoor venue complete with lush greenery and open water for the shoot. Whenever doing a cosplay with layered textiles and voluminous sheer fabrics, I always try the entire ensemble on at home beforehand to familiarize myself with the layering sequence, avoiding unnecessary panic and clumsiness outdoors.

Shooting amidst the blossoms at Haizhu Wetland Park, the ambient lighting was delightfully gentle, with pink and white flower clusters serving as a backdrop that organically melted into the pink-and-white tones of the costume. The weather was wonderful that day with the sun drifting in and out, allowing us to take advantage of moments when clouds softened the sunlight so the illumination remained even across my face without casting harsh shadows. For the makeup, I opted for a translucent finish centered around the eyes and blush, preserving a dewy, airy texture even in close-ups. The light blue contact lenses provided a lovely contrast against the silver-white hair. Topped with elaborate golden hair ornaments, the long silver locks carried noticeable weight, yet as I strolled outdoors, the swaying tassels and red beads catching the breeze added dynamic motion that truly brought the frames to life. Securing these hairpieces took considerable effort, utilizing bobby pins and hairspray to reinforce the inner hair structure and guarantee they wouldn't shift during outdoor movement.

During the shoot, capturing the right angle for the fluttering skirt was by far the most time-consuming part. Because the sleeves and skirt hem are very broad, we relied on breezes or body tilts to unfurl the fabric, creating rich dimensional layers in the photos. The images you see here took dozens of turns and repositioned stances behind the scenes, alongside micro-adjusting arm curves to complement the flow of the trailing ribbons. In particular, the golden lines along the skirt hem only sparkled under specific angles and light reflections, requiring non-stop coordination with the photographer regarding camera elevation and light direction. To achieve that weightless float in the skirt and ribbons, we experimented with repeated slow-shutter captures and bursts of motion—sometimes requiring me to spin in place or swing my arms widely. It was exhausting, but seeing the final shots made every effort worthwhile.

Sitting among the flowers required extra mindfulness over the skirt's arrangement, ensuring the golden inner lining patterns remained visible without crushing the surrounding greenery. Sitting down and standing back up always required several minutes of careful wardrobe adjustment.

Joining the ACG Creation Festival at Haizhu Wetland allowed us to complete this artistic creation against the backdrop of wandering through blooming flowers and glowing Chinese chic aesthetics. The natural environment was stunning, and thanks to thorough prep work from everyone involved, our shooting efficiency was remarkably high. Expressing the character's spirit in such an organic setting while harmonizing with the costume's aesthetic is an exciting challenge: one must clearly present the garment's delicate craftsmanship while preserving the subject's relaxed, natural state in the flower fields. In outdoor photography, beyond costumes and makeup, lighting and wind remain the least controllable factors, yet it is precisely these natural elements that impart a one-of-a-kind tactile depth to the pictures. I hope friends who adore Xishi will enjoy this photo set, with heartfelt thanks to my photographer and logistics teammates for their hard work.