Marion Cotillard's Oscar Dress

My first introduction to Marion Cotillard was at the 2008 Academy Awards ceremony; and what an introduction it was!

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Here comes this gorgeous Frenchwoman, radiating glamour and coolness, and she’s in a mermaid gown! A literal mermaid gown. And then she delivered a very charming acceptance speech: “Thank you life, thank you love, and it is true, there is some angels in this city!” I was hooked.

Suddenly I wanted to know everything about this unknown entity. I sought out La Vie en Rose and started taking notice when she appeared in English-language films. As international films starting being shown more often at the theatres in my city, I’d make sure to check out as many Marion Cotillard films as possible. De rouille et d'os (Rust and Bone) f*cked me up, as did Deux jours, une nuit (Two Days, One Night). Basically, if I know Marion Cotillard’s involved, count me in.

All this because of a glamorous Jean Paul Gaultier mermaid dress. So let’s talk about it.

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When Marion Cotillard arrived on the Oscars red carpet on February 24, 2008, she was wearing custom Jean Paul Gaultier. An ivory and silver mermaid gown: total mermaid elegance with beaded mermaid scales all over. Honestly, this dress looked like something Ariel would’ve worn when she first transformed into a human if The Little Mermaid had been made with Sophia Coppola sensibilities.

It’s so effortless and glam, and the fact that she got it custom from Jean Paul Gaultier! The original version debuted during the Spring/Summer 2008 Couture show at Paris Fashion Week in January, entirely gold. Kendall Jenner wore this version at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.