Billy Porter's Most Show-Stopping Style Moments Over The Years

The "Pose" star caught everyone's eye on the Oscars red carpet, but he's been serving up serious looks for years.
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The Oscars red carpet on Sunday featured plenty of show-stopping looks, but none of them quite compared to the magnificence of Billy Porter’s tuxedo gown.

The singer and “Pose” actor arrived at the ceremony dressed in a custom black and white ensemble by Christian Siriano. The top half resembled a classic tux jacket, complete with a bowtie, while the bottom half ― a full skirt ― was pure drama. (He wore a similar look for the Vanity Fair Oscar party after the awards ceremony.)

Take a look for yourself:

Bily Porter dressed in a custom Christian Siriano tuxedo gown.
Frazer Harrison via Getty Images
Bily Porter dressed in a custom Christian Siriano tuxedo gown.

As one Twitter user pointed out, the outfit appeared to be an homage to Grandfather Hector Xtravaganza of the House of Xtravaganza. Hector, who served as a consultant on “Pose,” was known as an icon of the ballroom community.

Porter’s outfit choice was deeply personal, he told Vogue, saying he has always been interested in fashion but few up feeling “there was a limit to the ways in which [he] could express [himself].”

“When you’re black and you’re gay, one’s masculinity is in question. I dealt with a lot of homophobia in relation to my clothing choices,” he said. “I was trying to fit in to what other people felt I should look like.”

The actor said his role in “Kinky Boots,” for which he won a Tony Award, grounded him in an “unexpected” way.

“Putting on those heels made me feel the most masculine I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said. “It was empowering to let that part of myself free.”

Porter’s past style statements include an embellished silver cape at the Golden Globes and a satin suit with extravagant bow at the Critics’ Choice Awards. See those and more below:

2019
Daniele Venturelli via Getty Images
Porter wears a Christian Siriano outfit at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
2019
Santiago Felipe via Getty Images
Porter attends The Blonds fall/winter 2019 runway show at Spring Studios on Feb. 12 in New York City.
2019
Kris Connor via Getty Images
Porter attends the Blue Jacket Fashion Show benefitting the Prostate Cancer Foundation at Pier 59 Studios in New York City on Feb. 7.
2019
Santiago Felipe via Getty Images
Adam Smith and Porter attend the Wan Hung show at Pier 59 Studios in New York City on Feb. 5.
2019
Santiago Felipe via Getty Images
Porter at Pier 59 Studios on Feb. 4.
2019
Taylor Hill via Getty Images
Porter attends The 24th annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on Jan. 13.
2019
David Crotty via Getty Images
Porter attends the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 6.
2019
Rich Fury via Getty Images
Porter attends the Gold Meets Golden party hosted by Nicole Kidman and Nadia Comaneci on Jan. 5.
2019
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Porter attends the AFI Awards on Jan. 4.
2018
Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images
Porter arrives at Out Magazine's OUT100 Awards Celebration on Nov. 15.
2018
Paul Archuleta via Getty Images
Porter attends the Diversity x Design charity event on Aug. 25, 2018.
2018
Gary Gershoff via Getty Images
Porter attends the 2018 VH1 Trailblazer Honors on June 21, 2018.
2018
Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
Porter attends the Entertainment Weekly and People New York Upfronts celebration on May 14, 2018.
2017
Gary Gershoff via Getty Images
Porter attends "The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" New York screening on Dec. 11, 2017.
2017
Bennett Raglin via Getty Images
Porter attends TDF Honors Broadway's "Kinky Boots" on March 20, 2017.
2016
Sean Zanni via Getty Images
Porter attends Netflix Presents the New York Premiere of "The Get Down" on Aug. 11, 2016.
2014
D Dipasupil via Getty Images
Porter attends the American Theatre Wing's 68th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8, 2014.

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