[Xishi cosplay] Honor of Kings: The Ethereal Atmosphere of Riding Carp Ballad

Bringing Xishi - Riding Carp Ballad from Honor of Kings to life centered largely around constructing the headdress and fine-tuning the overarching cosmetics during pre-production. The core of this cosplay lies in accentuating the character's ethereal detachment and lively grace; though I previously joked about being 'out of character' in my teaser, once the cameras rolled, I poured everything into channeling that transcendent immortal aura.

First, regarding the wig: a black bob can easily look stiff if not layered properly, so I deliberately kept face-framing strands along both cheeks. The wig was crafted from matte heat-resistant fibers, smoothed with a flat iron before each shooting session to preserve a soft, fluid drape. The headdress was the heaviest component of the entire ensemble, combining a metallic armature with acrylic and plumage; securing it required over a dozen bobby pins tightly flush against the scalp so the flanking tassels and butterfly pendants wouldn't sway erratically during motion. The main headdress featured a golden foundation adorned with pale pink and white blossoms and wing-like motifs, flanked by silver butterfly dangles and long tassels. In fabricating this piece, I utilized shrink plastic and ultra-light clay, keeping the interior hollow to minimize weight. Even so, the tassels added enough drag that extended wear strained my neck. For anyone tackling similarly top-heavy characters, I strongly recommend lining the underside with non-slip silicone pads and securing your natural hair tightly with a wig cap to keep the wig and headpiece from sliding back.

For makeup, the eyes were paramount. To project violet-blue irises, highly pigmented contact lenses were selected. The eye makeup used a low-saturation pinkish-purple base, deepening the outer corners and lower lids to create a soft, flushed look that, paired with under-eye blush, lent an innocent yet fragile charm. To match the official splash art's eye shape, double eyelid tape adjusted the slant of the eye corners. The key to pairing violet-blue eyes with pink-purple tones is keeping the canvas pristine: clean blending that stays strictly within the eye sockets. Sweeping blush directly under the eyes and lightly across the nose bridge fostered a delicate, teary-eyed vulnerability. A nude-pink lip glaze blurred along the lip line softened the overall expression.

Wardrobe-wise, the off-the-shoulder sheer blouse required careful wardrobe tape, while a heavy engraved silver torc necklace paired with a collarbone chain held the neckline securely in place. Crimson-painted nails and a crescent-shaped prop in my right hand, complemented by blue-to-pink gradient spirit carp visual effects, pulled the mystical ambiance together. The set featured a moody, dark backdrop adorned with calligraphy scrolls. The lighting setup placed a key light overhead in front with rim backlighting tracing silhouettes to create high chiaroscuro contrast and sculptural depth. Given the sheer textiles and exposed shoulders, harsh lighting would look cheap while flat lighting lacked dimensionality; ultimately, an overhead key light with a softbox paired with a rim hair light illuminated the texture of the hair and headdress from behind. The floating orbs of light were integrated in post-production to echo the spirit carp effects. The hanging calligraphy scrolls were physical props sourced after combing through countless shops.

A few practical tips for shooting this Traditional Chinese style cosplay: sheer, airy fabrics call for seamless nude undergarments. Prop handling also demands relaxed wrists and fingers rather than a rigid death-grip. Throughout the shoot, I continuously pursued that floating, immortal lightness—shifting my center of gravity slightly back, tucking the chin, and letting my gaze drift with subtle detachment. Cosplay is not merely about donning a costume, but embodying a persona; while complete perfection is hard to claim, I strived to convey through the lens that otherworldly beauty of riding a carp beyond the mortal realm. Calibrating my breath, dropping my shoulders, lightly holding the crescent prop, and lowering my eyelids helped project that untouched, celestial grace.