He’s the enfant terrible of French fashion who served as creative director of Hermès for seven years and designed Madonna’s iconic conical bra

And now Jean-Paul Gaultier will design the stage costumes for France’s Eurovision 2018 act Madame Monsieur when they perform “Mercy” in Libson.

The acclaimed couturier approached Madame Monsieur after they appeared on talkshow 20:30h le dimanche in January.

Madame Monsieur’s Emilie revealed all to French journalist Fabien Randanne, a writer with 20Minutes.fr and one of our favourite Frenchies.

“Jean-Paul Gaultier fell into our arms in the dressing rooms! He told us he had followed us in Destination Eurovision, that he loved our look and our song. There were a lot of behind the scenes discussions and he told us, ‘If you’re happy, I’d love to dress you for Eurovision.’

“We didn’t dare believe it, but our teams got in touch. And a few days later we found ourselves in his workshops in Paris, for him to take our measurements.”

Fan of Madame Monsieur’s look – all black with pops of red – can rest easy.

“He told us, ‘I understand you have a very well defined look, we will try to work on it without distorting who you are, we will stick with what you’ve built so far,'” Emilie adds.

Fittings begin next week. The final outfits, however, won’t be seen until rehearsals in Lisbon in May.

JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER AND EUROVSISION

Gaultier has an extensive association with the Eurovision Song Contest.

He’s dressed Dana International twice, dressed Anggun for Eurovision 2012 and booked Ireland’s Jedward to walk at the Life Ball 2015 in Vienna. He also dressed Swedish comedian and TV presenter Petra Mede when she hosted Eurovision 2013.

Other Eurovision credits include Amina (France 1991) and Anna Vissi (Greece 2006).

Gaultier has also commentated on the contest, providing coverage of Eurovision 2008 for France 3, alongside Julien Lepers.

Madame Monsieur have two upcoming promo appearances at Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam and Eurovision Spain PreParty in Madrid.

GET MORE FRANCE EUROVISION NEWS

50 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bilha Keydar
Bilha Keydar
6 years ago

Love it,,,,,

Mizna
Mizna
6 years ago

All these hate comments saying, virtually, the same thing over and over are literally coming from the same IP address. We see you, girl!

CyxCy
CyxCy
6 years ago

There is nothing “superficial” about being well dressed on the night of the final, or all candidates are superficial. Everyone wants to give the best image of their country and dress accordingly. Should they come with an accordion and a baguette under their arms to be authentic French credible to you? Why should they stay in their usual outfit to sing “Mercy” if Jamala wears a pretty dress to sing “1944”? Did ABBA wore Napoleonic war clothes to sing “Waterloo”?

CyxCy
CyxCy
6 years ago
Reply to  CyxCy

I, too, work with refugees, which makes your judgment despicable all the more incomprehensible. “Mercy” represents a unique opportunity to defend refugees in front of billions of viewers, it’s a much bigger impact than any assembly, any government, in front of which you also have to get dressed to go talk. And you denigrate the group and their message just because you do not like Jean-Paul Gaultier. It was normal for the delegation to communicate on its presence, every year they say who dresses our candidates. Amandine Bourgeois wore a dress signed Jean-Claude Jitrois, etc … This year is Gaultier,… Read more »

Cin
Cin
6 years ago

Yeah, it sort of cheapens their whole humanitarian message…

Cin
Cin
6 years ago

Good for them, but how do they even have money for that.. it must cost a fortune to have your stage costumes designed and made by JPG

CyxCy
CyxCy
6 years ago
Reply to  Cin

It’s not going to cost them a cent. The great couturirers regularly lend outfits, for example when movie stars or singers go to a prize-giving ceremony. and then when the photos appear in the press it is written “The actress is dressed by Chanel, wears Cartier jewels, is made up by L’oreal” … it makes the advertisement to all these marks at the same time.

Cin
Cin
6 years ago
Reply to  CyxCy

Oh ok, I thought he was going to design outfits especially for them? If it’s just borrowing then it is more understandable, although I didn’t know Eurovision was so prestigeious as to big designers would want to advertise here.. the more you know 😉

CyxCy
CyxCy
6 years ago
Reply to  CyxCy

I don’t see how it makes them “false and superficial”. It wasn’t them who went to get Gaultier, it ‘s he who offered them his services because he liked this duet and this song. In the name of what should they refuse? They represents France, Gaultier is a French fashion designer, and he knows Eurovision very well. and they will still be in something sober. Just because the song is about refugees, does not mean that they don’t have to be well dressed for the final, which will be broadcast to billions of people? When Jamala sang “1944” the theme… Read more »

Victoria
Victoria
6 years ago

I see Jean-Paul is a big ESC-fan! Oh, and also he and Conchita are BFF, by the way 🙂

Yaa
Yaa
6 years ago

Gauche caviar at it’s finest!

CyxCy
CyxCy
6 years ago
Reply to  Yaa

Tiens, un beauf de droite.

Yaa
Yaa
6 years ago
Reply to  CyxCy

Coucou!

Michael
Michael
6 years ago

JPG is savvy enough to know the earnestness of the song and the singers – I trust he’ll only increase the songs chances of success. Relax people – he’s only manning outfits because he likes ESC.

tomma
tomma
6 years ago

@Overpriced and Overrated – ”And it fits perfectly to wear a dress made with the finest fabric made from slave labour in third world country but costing thousands of euros…”

You are right. I didn’t expected this from MM.

tomma
tomma
6 years ago

43 countries and of them all, France decided to work with expensive designer. So much about helping refugees and disappearing behind the song wearing black. They need a fancy designer to create another black outfit. Probably a ”19th century widow” like Norma John.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

lmao at some comments here.

Bring DENISE Back NOW
Bring DENISE Back NOW
6 years ago

The german Ann Sophie went for all black staging for song Black Smoke……….and that was a great idea…….it sure grabbed everyone’s attention

Adam
Adam
6 years ago

I’m not in favour of this decision, because in the interview, they said they would stick with the trademark black outfit as to make themselves ‘anonymous’, because the focus is on the song and its message rather than the artists. I do hope the new design doesn’t result in something too flashy and is something simple and in the style of Madame Monsieur.

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago

Actually, economic status is irrelevant when it comes to refugees. The people desperate enough to flee Syria are not “poor”, they are a broad range of social rungs – from dentists to schoolteachers to grocers to chief executives. Many of them lived quite comfortably in their old lives, perhaps some of them even owned Jean Paul Gautier outfits, but had to leave them back home in shreds along with the rest of their lives.

Bombs and chemical weapons don’t just come for “poor people”.

Roby0888
Roby0888
6 years ago

Any excuse to hate on MM right? The song is just about a little girl saved on the mediterannean sea, nothing else…
You’re a pathetic excuse for a human being…

West
West
6 years ago

Jean-Paul Gaultier?! Even I know the name – and I pretty much live under the rock when it comes to fashion. I’m really courious what the final outfits will look like.

AndyLamp
AndyLamp
6 years ago

Yes! This is a brilliant decision. I am exciting to see how JPG adds his fabulous touch to this poignant song

Kevin
Kevin
6 years ago

Nah. she can works on it. It was her first live performance of the song. I think it was ok

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I was worried for a moment because I want them to stay true to their style. But I understand they’ll keep it in a way so I’m confident Gaultier will do a great job!

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
6 years ago

He also dressed the hosts in 2008. in Belgrade on all 3 nights if I recall correctly.

Andrew
Andrew
6 years ago

GO GO GO Cyprus!
Fuego! Foureira can’t wait to see you burning that stage!!
12 points from Europe to Cyprus

Frau Loch
Frau Loch
6 years ago

It is all about grabbing the media moment. C’est tout.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

Meanwhile Estonia is still struggling to fund the projection dress.

Penguin
Penguin
6 years ago

I see no need to change their outfits. It’s sophisticated and classy.

ZACK
ZACK
6 years ago

MM are tapping into the French existentialism style from the 1960s …sober minded and yet chic

Curve
Curve
6 years ago

Well I hope this won’t ruin Madame Monsieur’s chance of winning the contest. I don’t know much about Mr. Gaultier but I am wary when it comes to surprising constumes during the actual Eurovision night (beep beep Gabbani). Regardless, best of luck to all pf them.

Aaron
Aaron
6 years ago
Reply to  Curve

are you stupid?

Mr Gautier was artistic director at Hermes 2003-2010?

Curve
Curve
6 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

I am from Asia and I am not into fashion in the first place. Do you think I have to care about that throughout my entire life? You can’t even spell Gaultier right lol.

PP
PP
6 years ago

For me is very weird that Madame Monsieur sing about refugees in their eurovision song , and for that kind of song they will wear on eurovision stage, expensive clothes from designer JPG.

Aaron
Aaron
6 years ago
Reply to  PP

refugees and expensive clothing are not connected entities, may that’s why??? idk

Nickc
Nickc
6 years ago

C’est magnifique! J’espere que les vetements de Gaultier contribueront a la victoire francaise!!!

Branko
Branko
6 years ago

Didn’t he commentated for French TV in 2007 and not 2008?

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago

Who designed Dana International’s dress for her actual performance of Diva?

I know he designed the famous colorful feathery one that she wore for the reprise, but did he also design the grey one she wore earlier?

FanESC
FanESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

No, he only designed his winner dress.

So
So
6 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

*her dress

Life is a drag
Life is a drag
6 years ago
Reply to  So

*its dress

Madrileño
Madrileño
6 years ago

I Love this idea.
Will they still be in black?
Bone chance Neigbors love your entry.

Safiya
Safiya
6 years ago

Great news, I love his designs! However, Madame Monsieur’s outfits are very simple and it really works so I hope they won’t exaggerate and will keep it simple. By the way didn’t he also dress Les Fatals Picards in 2007?

stommie
stommie
6 years ago
Reply to  Safiya

Also Norway 1996, Israel 1998, Croatia 1999, Greece 2006, Israel 2011, France 2012 and probably some I forgot.

Fun or ban?
Fun or ban?
6 years ago
Reply to  stommie

Israel 1998

Truth be told
Truth be told
6 years ago
Reply to  stommie

lol for real? Most them were hideous.

PP
PP
6 years ago
Reply to  stommie

For Israel 1998(Dana wear on reprise of winning song) , Greece 2006, France 2007 and now France 2018 he create unique model. Other wear dress from his collection.
We read that Anna Vissi dress cost more than 100000 euros.

Truth be told
Truth be told
6 years ago

I thought they wanted to remain completely in black and completely anonymous-looking. How much can you do within those perimeters?

Andy
Andy
6 years ago
Reply to  Truth be told

I’m assuming it’s going to be the replica of the same outfit but made by Jean-Paul Gauliter, but seeing he also dressed Mede in 2013, maybe they will go wild?