VideoInside the Design of Billy Porter’s Oscars GownChristian Siriano talks about making Academy Awards history with the Tony winner.
By
Ruthie Fierberg
March 12, 2019
Billy Porter has been turning heads on red carpets for months now—albeit away from Broadway. His look on the red carpet of the Golden Globes, for which he had earned a nomination for Pose, garnered tons of press, and his fashion statement at the Academy Awards kicked it up a notch.
“It was the first time a man has ever worn a gown on the Oscars red carpet, which we didn't even really think about,” fashion designer Christian Siriano said of the dress he made for Porter.
“With Billy, he just wanted to be his true self. He was like, ‘This is me; this is what I want to represent to the world.’’
The process of making the dress for Porter and consulting with stylist Sam Ratelle only took one week: “That’s when it's a real moment, when it’s natural and organic.”
Porter is, of course, most famous for his Tony-winning performance as Lola in Kinky Boots. He also recently appeared on Broadway in Shuffle Along.