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Billy Porter's tuxedo dress on the Oscars red carpet has an amazing backstory
25 February 2019, 14:40
Billy Porter won the Oscars with his Christian Siriano dress...
2019 has really delivered on the fashion front. This awards season alone has blessed us with some of the most stunning and memorable looks in recent red carpet history. From Cody Fern and Timothée Chalamet at the Golden Globes to Cardi B and Lady Gaga at the Grammys, our faves are turning it out this year. Last night was the Oscars (Feb 24) and Hollywood came out in full force.
Emma Stone, Kacey Musgraves and Kendall Jenner all made headlines but it was Billy Porter who really stole the show. The beloved American Horror Story and Pose actor wore a jaw-dropping tuxedo dress and we've not been able to stop thinking about it ever since he stepped on the red carpet. Billy might not have been up for any awards but he won best dressed of the evening.
Check out Billy Porter's tuxedo dress below.
The look was custom made by designer Christian Siriano and fans were quick to notice that it's not just a statement outfit. It is actually inspired by a historic get-up. @villa_cobos tweeted: "POSE star Billy Porter pays homage to ballroom icon, the Legendary Grandfather Hector Xtravaganza of the House of Xtravaganza, on Academy Awards Red Carpet" alongside photos of both.
Speaking to Vogue, Billy said: "Now I’m in a space where, being on Pose, I’m invited to red carpets and I have something to say through clothes. My goal is to be a walking piece of political art every time I show up. To challenge expectations. What is masculinity? What does that mean? Women show up every day in pants, but the minute a man wears a dress, the seas part."
He then added: "From this [Oscars] moment, I want people to understand that you don’t have to understand or even agree with other people’s authenticity or truths, but we must all respect each other. People are going to be really uncomfortable with my black ass in a ball gown—but it’s not anybody’s business but mine."
The inspiration behind Billy's look.
POSE star Billy Porter pays homage to ballroom icon, the Legendary Grandfather Hector Xtravaganza of the House of Xtravaganza, on Academy Awards Red Carpet pic.twitter.com/CoWaPzNZnH
— IMKnOtKRAzEE (@villa_cobos) February 25, 2019
Incredible, right?! Pose has obviously helped expose the history of Ballroom culture to a wider audience but it's great to see Billy continue to do that outside of the show. He has owned every single red carpet this season but this tuxedo dress tops it all. In fact, it's so amazing that it has already inspired huge waves of praise and admiration on the internet.
Here are just a few of the reactions.
I wish I had a Billy Porter when I was a kid. You don't need to want to wear a dress to be inspired by someone who is unafraid to be themselves. https://t.co/KEfNxf6viK
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 24, 2019
Children shouldn’t have to be brought up in fear of being themselves. They should be raised to who they feel they are. What Billy Porter did was so important to mixing energies while paying homage to Hector Xtravaganza. This moment is a testament to the future of black queers.
— AJA (@ajaqueen) February 25, 2019
Billy Porter has the most fragile of men quaking and for what? Some of ya’ll are too soft. That includes all the women saying “that’s not a real man.” A real man, like Billy Porter, knows that cloth is simply cloth. His message is clear and you all are showing your asses.
— Neeks (@ItsNeeksYeah) February 25, 2019
“That Globes look was DRAMA!”
— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) February 25, 2019
Billy Porter: “hold my queer.” pic.twitter.com/km6FOgr4Sb
Billy Porter killed it this award season with his looks. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/n4kM4sEzvO
— Denizcan Grimes (@MrFilmkritik) February 24, 2019
My favorite Oscars moment is and always will be Glenn Close studying Billy Porter and coming to a clear conclusion. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/tWW529seT2
— Jamie B. Golden (@jamiebgolden) February 25, 2019
Legendary.