I specially chose Haidilao for this outdoor makeup and styling session this time to match the offline event of Roco Kingdom, and the atmosphere was instantly pushed to the max. Since it's an offline event, we must get the authentic details perfectly right. For Teacher Sherry's blue and white shawl jacket, I decided on the collar width and fabric texture after comparing a lot of reference materials myself, aiming to restore the warm and cool variations under light and shadow as much as possible. The wig is an orange-brown shade with relatively neat bangs, and the gloss of the hair strands is handled very naturally without looking overly plasticky, making it quite easy to manage for casual cosplay. To match the character's bright big eyes, I put on thin colored contact lenses and intentionally enhanced the contour at the outer corners of my eyes to make my gaze look more agile.
When I took out the two giant yellow plush toys I had prepared, along with that star-shaped "Amazing Talent" board, many passing friends stopped in their tracks. The size of these two plushies is truly massive. When holding them for photos, the symmetrical left-right composition perfectly frames a person in the center, blocking out the cluttered background on both sides. That star board with "Amazing Talent" written on it is simply the soul embellishment of the entire frame, with its bright yellow color forming a wonderful color-blocking echo with the blue of the costume.
Speaking of this Haidilao collaboration, the various merchandise and decorations on-site are truly thoughtful. Although the restaurant has quite a bit of foot traffic, conducting a cosplay shoot in a hotpot restaurant filled with the smoke and fire of daily life brings a wonderful sensation of breaking the fourth wall. The lighting is soft and leaning towards warm tones, making my skin look evenly toned. The shadow depth originally pressed down by foundation naturally fades under the warm light, making the whole person look refreshed and energetic.
As a cosplay lover, I always believe that participating in offline events of famous IPs is an excellent experience. This kind of scene setup doesn't require complex green screen post-production; the native ambient light and interactions with various NPC plushies give the final photos a more breathable feel. Sherry's setting itself is that kind of tone with a touch of gentleness yet maintaining her own firm assertions, so when taking photos, I tried my best to keep my expressions relaxed with the corners of my mouth slightly raised, looking straight into the camera with gentle but decisive eyes. I tried to avoid overly exaggerated movements to keep the overall lines clean and sharp. I feel that shooting this way comes closest to the wise and friendly image in our hearts.
After walking around the restaurant a few times in this outfit, I truly felt the enthusiasm of fellow fans. If you want to get great shots from the offline event, doing early homework and scouting the scene are extremely important. I don't really like those moments of posing purely for the sake of posing. I prefer that whenever I see this photo, the exact moment of standing at the Roco Kingdom collaboration scene directly flashes into my mind, where the surrounding bustle contrasts with the character's serenity.
Actually, what consumed the most energy this time was arranging those large-volume props, especially moving around while holding them, which really took up space. However, seeing the clean and bright colors in the final product photos makes me feel that all the previous hard work was well worth it. My makeup style has always pursued cleanliness and crispness, as I dislike piling heavy highlights and contours on the face. The facial three-dimensionality is achieved as much as possible through a lightweight base and a natural blending of blush. This not only looks great on camera but also avoids hurting the skin when removing makeup. This kind of neutral makeup feel, suitable for daily commuting yet retaining character traits, is instead more fitting for this cozy offline scene.
I also met quite a few player friends at the Haidilao venue who recognized this outfit. Everyone chatted together about the new plot lines and challenges in the collaboration, and the atmosphere was truly amazing. This is exactly why I've always felt that cosplay is not just a single photograph; it is a special experience of us walking into the world of a beloved character. Arranging the star board, picking up the plush toys, and watching the camera press down at that exact split second makes it feel as if I've truly overlapped with Teacher Sherry. This sense of fulfillment is irreplaceable.