#[ i love that one larger strand swept straight across that adds texture. I LOVE THE BRAID. I /LOVE THE BRAIN SO MUCH/. ]

[orchideae]

(We've all seen the first one, but the source for the second one from the official artist is here)

Yelan. Yelan, Madame Yelan, what on earth is this outfit. Granted, please don't get me wrong, I loved and was enthralled when I first caught a glimpse of her (also any glimpse of Yelan thrills me) in it, but geez. And yet, they're so consistent with her design;

— The single-sleeved jacket is a brilliant little nod to her mantle but making it something utterly hers within something that is an AU. No mystical beasts or Tsaritsa here! — The straps near her neck are a very different, but quite nice, summer-like rendition to Hoyo's consistent choice for Yelan of a halter/high neck (even the Pizza Hut ad had her in a turtleneck). A lower neckline is something that they actively seem to avoid for her so far. — The amount of see-through fabric is simply a call-back to her default outfit, but rather than spots of it left and right, it's her full-midriff and leg. It fits, it's nothing new. And if anything, funnily enough, I'd seen numerous artworks pop up of Yelan in swimming attire, and all of the designs felt a little off. I don't actually envision her in a bikini like many draw her, but instead, something like what you see here from her neck, to the midriff to the hips. Much more fitting in my opinion, actually, so I like seeing that concept in an outfit in circumstances where you'd expect a lot of summer influence. — And a detail that makes me laugh: the hand that has the white glove in her canonical outfit is also white here, and same with the black one. Also, the bracelet. God, I love consistency even if it seems trivial. But nothing's ever trivial to me guys, you know this.

All in all, thirst trap, sure, but also, good decisions were made.

#[ mini study. ] that which hides inside her… that constant calling; it is the blood of heroes which has been howling for 500 years. #[ i can't believe i'm tagging this with mini study but it is! ] #[ also can i talk for two seconds about how mUCH I LOVE HER HAIR? ] #[ and also point out this thing of-- i think she's arguably one of the female characters that oozes this enthralling femininity. ] #[ but she has short hair; she's one of the very few across the board that has actually short hair. not tied back or cheating in any way. ] #[ but actual short hair. and out of the tall female model users-- i think she may be the only one? ] #[ and yet she /oozes/ something so different. i think they did a wonderful job. ] #[ i just point this out because while i personally definitely don't think long hair automatically makes a woman more feminine-- ] #[ i know it's still a common societal assumption/opinion. and yet here she is. and despite one stupid twitter post... ] #[ i never see her referenced as a tomboy. if anything; she's described as being the exact opposite. ] #[ i just think it's perfectly chosen. it's a magnificent longer bob. i love the angled bangs all the way across. ] #[ i love that one larger strand swept straight across that adds texture. I LOVE THE BRAID. I /LOVE THE BRAIN SO MUCH/. ] #[ i love the color. i just love everything about this woman's design. and i also love how she does not look like she's from liyue at all. ] #[ if we look at colour schemes. but she is. we know she is. yes yes i know; /most/ designs are because of their elements. i know. ] #[ but still. ] #[ granted-- i'll even counter that take with one of my own: 'night orchid'. :) ] #[ okay okay i'M DONE SIMPING over one yelan. ] #[ i guess. ] #[ let's see if i can get some writing done. it's high time. ]