Billy Porter revived his legendary 2019 Oscars tuxedo gown at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards, courtesy of designer Christian Siriano. For the second time around, Porter adorned the custom velvet double-breasted creation in a resplendent fuchsia color, featuring satin peak lapels, a matching bowtie and a cascading train.
Sporting braids for the occasion, Porter amped up the glamour with glittering Yeprem ear cuffs, and an assortment of dazzling rings from Stéfère jewelry and House of Emmanuele. Porter, of course, teamed his head-turning ensemble with sparking, crystal-encrusted platform boots, styled by Ty Hunter and Colin Anderson.
Porter presented filmmaker and close collaborator Ryan Murphy with the Carol Burnett Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday night. The Pose creator took the opportunity to praise the LGBTQ+ actors who have worked with him throughout his career, including MJ Rodriguez, Niecy Nash, Matt Bomer, Jeremy Pope, and of course, Billy Porter. The director even revealed he had a little something to do with Porter’s ensemble for the evening.
“I’m going to start by talking about the amazing achievement Billy Porter’s entire life has been,” Murphy said in his acceptance speech. “Growing up in Pittsburgh, Billy was constantly told that he was not worthy. Said Billy, quote, ‘When I demanded to be seen as a three-dimensional human being, the work dried up.’ But Billy Porter kept at it and now, he’s one of the most iconic actors of his generation, with two Tonys, a Grammy, and an Emmy Award for Pose to show for it.”
He continued, “More than that, Billy Porter has changed our perceptions by changing fashion. He did this. He’s the one who ushered in this new movement by wearing a black velvet tuxedo gown on the Oscars red carpet. I asked him to wear that outfit tonight and he said, ‘Bitch, it’s in a museum.’ But he whipped up this fuchsia replica for me. And I love it, and I love him. Thank you, Billy.”
Designer Christian Siriano took to social media to commemorate the look, referring to Porter as “THE KING.” He wrote, “Was happy to create the tuxedo gown then and happy to create a new version now! Always and forever.”
A landmark moment in fashion history, Porter’s iconic 2019 Academy Awards black velvet tuxedo gown by Siriano revamped antiquated gender confines. That same year, Porter spoke about the gown with actress Rachel Brosnahan for Variety’s Actors on Actors segment. “I think that we as artists…have the power to change the molecular structure of people’s hearts and minds and change the world,” he said. “That dress changed the world.”
