Beloved French actor Marion Cotillard—known for her glamorous looks and iconic red-carpet moments—likes to take chances when it comes to her fashion choices. As a modern muse for Chanel, the star paid very close attention to the latest haute-couture looks presented by the fashion house, each created as a one-of-a-kind piece by the artisans at atelier Maison Lesage for Chanel’s most exclusive clientele.

ON HAUTE COUTURE

“It [means] excellence! It is very French, [and] it is cultural; it is the excellence of all these craftsmen who [dedicate] themselves to the service of an object of art that we can wear.”

ON SOME OF HER FAVOURITE CHANEL LOOKS FROM THE SHOW

“I really liked the first look [a suit jacket and matching skirt] in green tweed because I love that colour. There was an embroidered skirt-jacket set—silver and shiny—that I really liked too. And then a [long, flowy] dress made out of a veil; it had long sleeves and was beautifully embroidered on the front. I always like a veil—the way it hides and [shows off] the body at the same time.”

ON HER STANDOUT PIECES OF CLOTHING

“They are quite simple: I have two of my mother’s blouses that I still wear today, that I never get tired of and that I will surely give to my daughter.”

ON HER FASHION PHILOSOPHY

“I think that everyone needs to respect their personality while having fun [and] thinking outside the box. We are multi-faceted beings, and we explore certain facets more than others at, say, events like today and moments in life when we can wear things that are a little more extravagant, a little more sexy—things that we would not necessarily wear in everyday life. As long as you respect your personality, everything works.”

ON HER STYLE EVOLUTION

“It’s true that I like to explore a bit. When I was little, I used to make really improbable mixes. I would go to school wearing a leotard in an indescribable shiny blue and an orange skirt with black polka dots. Today, I look at these moments with tenderness, but I was having a very bad [time then]. In fact, I think it was [because of] the looks others [gave me] and that I didn’t [own] my style, because in truth, I really liked it. I disavowed my creativity, but even if it was doubtful, it was there. Today, I [have confidence in] the things I wear. To have little strokes of madness from time to time, even in my everyday life—I like that a lot.”

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