First off, yes, it looks like 300 big white fish had to die in order for Marion Cotillard's Oscar gown by Jean Paul Gaultier to come to fruition. And, the girl was a hot topic of debate on the red carpet -- is she Best Dressed? Worst Dressed? Most Likely to Get Eaten by a Shark?

Whichever list you choose to put her on, you can't deny that Marion knew how to work that gown. I wasn't really digging the gown until her speech, when she said, "You rock my life!" If you're cute enough to say something like that, you're cute enough to pull off this mermaid look.

Is it for you? If you intend to wear a straight-off-the-runway look like this, there are a couple things to keep in mind:

• Go all or nothing -- If you're gonna work it, then work it. You'd better not have any doubts about your dress because everyone else will be curious about it already, and if you don't seem sold on it, they won't be, either.
  
  
• Make sure it works with the rest of your wedding -- Even if the dress is totally your style, if the rest of your wedding is traditional and conservative, you will look out of place. If the dress is funky, so should be your decor.
  
  
• Finish the look -- With this particular dress, Marion wore her hair down in waves, like a mermaid. If you go with a theme (flapper, boho, pirate, whatever), commit to it with hair, makeup, and accessories.