[Yunli cosplay] The Practical Little Swordsman in Honkai: Star Rail

The feel of this costume is very unique. Although it looks like a dynamic idol stage outfit full of traditional Chinese elements in a grand scene, my body is actually supported by many structural layers and rigid materials. The golden crown on top of my head is extremely heavy; paired with my layered, self-trimmed black short hair, it took a lot of time to adjust the angle before shooting to ensure the visual center of gravity wouldn't become unbalanced.

The black leather choker and golden crescent-shaped metal pieces around my neck reflect a wonderful texture under the warm light, which is meant to recreate Yunli's agile temperament. The top features a white mandarin collar, while the lower part has a very bold waist-baring design. Combined with the drape at the chest and the huge metallic obsidian sphere in the middle, paired with the green gemstones beside it, the overall visual is highly eye-catching. In addition to the tailoring of the clothing itself, the detached sleeve design is also a clever touch—it preserves ease of movement while adding an extra layer of depth. The main color palette of the skirt consists of a very vibrant lake blue and peacock blue, decorated with meticulous gold-stamped cloud patterns on the hem, which look exceptionally reflective under strong light.

For the shoot, we specially chose this real-scene studio with huge circular wooden lattices. The warm yellow backlighting hit the wooden screen, bathing the entire environment in a sunset-like tranquility. This perfectly fits the character's charm—seemingly lively on the surface, but with a quiet obsession deep down. My favorite prop is, of course, the two sticks of Tanghulu prop in my hand. The translucent sugar coating sparkles under the strong light, which not only increases the color vividness of the frame but also provides a visual focus. Props with snack attributes are perfect for expressing her childlike, gap-moe side, and happen to echo the cute vibe often referred to by netizens as "baby's solid food."

Regarding the makeup, I didn't go for heavy colors this time, instead using earth tones and amber colored contact lenses to brighten my eyes, paired with slightly elongated eyeliner to make them look more spiritual. The wig's bangs were styled into slightly trimmed and layered fringe, which visually provides a full volume of hair while framing the face beautifully.

We actually encountered some challenges during the shooting process, mainly because the studio lighting needed to strike a balance between the strong backlighting and the frontal fill light. To preserve the wood grain details in the background without making my face look too flat, we repeatedly adjusted the position of the reflector. I am very satisfied with the final light effect: there is a soft warm light on my face, and the backlighting casts a gorgeous rim light around the edges of my hair.

The daily maintenance of the costume is also an unavoidable part of Anime cosplay. To keep the white top and the decorations on the blue skirt clean, I had to be extremely careful during every transport and before putting it on. Although the process is tedious, the moment I put on the clothes and stand in front of the camera with the props, looking at the frozen light and shadow, my love for the character becomes incredibly tangible and worthwhile. Through this share, I hope to present my passion in the form of photos, letting everyone feel what this character looks like when brought to life in the real world.