"When you come to the Oscars, you must dress up," "Pose" star Billy Porter wrote on Instagram about his standout look at the 2019 Oscars.
Porter's iconic Christian Siriano tuxedo dress was one of the most talked about looks on the red carpet at this year's Academy Awards.
He literally made jaws drop, and even actress Glenn Close gave him an amazing look of approval that has since went viral.
When Glenn Close saw Billy Potter at the #oscars. She is all of us! ?? pic.twitter.com/JcwLIhIa80
— Vauxhall_Tavern (@thervt) February 25, 2019
In an interview with Vogue magazine, Porter elaborated on his red carpet fashion statement.
"I’ve always wanted to wear a ball gown, I just didn’t know when," he said. "I was inspired [this past New York Fashion Week] because there's a conversation happening about inclusion and diversity. There were so many people of different races and voices."
There was a theory from Twitter user @villa_cobos that Porter's Oscars look pays homage to Grandfather Hector Xtravaganza of the House of Xtravaganza who was known as a "ballroom icon."
A side-by-side split of both men was shared on social media that shows the similarity in both looks.
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
In his Vogue interview, Porter said his fashion choices are "deeply personal."
"When you’re black and you’re gay, one’s masculinity is in question," he said. "I dealt with a lot of homophobia in relation to my clothing choices. [Even] when I had my first working contract at A&M Records, I was silent for a long time. I was trying to fit into what other people felt I should look like."
"People are going to be really uncomfortable with my black a** in a ball gown -- but it’s not anybody’s business but mine," he told Vogue.
Whether your love Porter's fashion or not, let's take a walk down memory lane to see how Porter's style has evolved through the years. Shall we?
This has been quite the breakout year for Porter and his fashion sense. He is clearly having a moment.
He wore red suits, pink furs, and cool specs.
What's not to love here?
