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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBilly Porter Won the Oscars Red Carpet Before It Even Began
On the Oscars red carpet, on Sunday night, Porter managed to outdo himself yet again. He wore a tuxedo gown by the designer and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, a sumptuous collision of butch-femme aesthetics. The top half of the outfit fit like a traditional mens tuxedo, in plush black velvet, with oversized satin lapels; the bottom half, also an inky river of velvet, flared out into a massive bell skirt. His torso looked like it was smoking a cigar with a brandy, while his skirt looked like it was ready for a gothic Victorian-era coronation. Porter, who interviewed celebrities on the red carpet as part of ABCs pre-show special, was one of the first people to arrive, and his dramatic look felt like a dare to everyone who would follow.
In his red-carpet work, Siriano has made a concerted effort to dress queer artists, plus-size bodies, and women of color, offering celebrities who have felt ignored or excluded from the world of high fashion a chance to drape themselves in old-Hollywood glamour. In 2016, the actress Leslie Jones tweeted that no designers wanted to dress her for the premier of Ghostbusters. Siriano came to the rescue, and Joness off-the-shoulder red gown became a coveted itemwe sold hundreds of that red gown, Siriano later said.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-and-off-the-avenue/billy-porter-won-the-oscars-red-carpet-before-it-even-began?utm_social-type=owned&utm_medium=social&mbid=social_twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_brand=tny
Link to tweet
demmiblue
(36,860 posts)Habibi
(3,598 posts)rock that gown!"
Baitball Blogger
(46,723 posts)She looks like she's basking in the righteousness of the moment.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)eShirl
(18,494 posts)demmiblue
(36,860 posts)Why is his wearing that any different than women wearing tuxedos (as at least two did McCarthy and the star of Middle School)? Women routinely show up to awards shows in tuxedos with no one saying boo. He looks great, the dress is amazing, and that is all that matters.
MLAA
(17,296 posts)IluvPitties
(3,181 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,002 posts)As this becomes more common and less remarkable it will be easier for you.
It's a great gown. McCarthy's outfit in the picture is uninspired and does her no favors.
IluvPitties
(3,181 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)So well stated.
and Porter's whole point, at that.
Siwsan
(26,264 posts)Kind of like a Victorian 'Mourning' outfit.
efhmc
(14,726 posts)nt
MLAA
(17,296 posts)DownriverDem
(6,228 posts)I don't get how it was to honor the LGBTQ community. If anything it looked to honor women.
DemocracyMouse
(2,275 posts)It's Queer in the best sense. To quote the ol' Broadway number, "it's delightful, it's delicious, it's delovely!"
What fun!
efhmc
(14,726 posts)nt
csziggy
(34,136 posts)And isn't how EVERYONE dresses at any award event to get attention?
While I didn't (and never) watch the awards and couldn't get the video to play, I think the description of his outfit is a perfect send up of the award event and the fixation on what is worn, especially by women. I'd love to see the men get more options and be scrutinized to the same extent women are!
The attitude is mainly to look as fashionista and good as possible, in a person's own style. Classy. And hopefully become known as someone who has a fashion sense & wears clothes well, so he or she is in pics year after year. With the main focus on the event itself. There are always a couple of screwballs who decide to dress up in wacky outfits, for the sole purpose of being photographed because they are so wacky or out of place. The woman dressed as a swan one year. Lady Gaga. This guy. It's a gimmick, not fashion. Gaga's gowns that are really costumes are stupid, too. She no longer does that much, now that she wants to be regarded more seriously, I guess.
Just my opinion. Just to get in the news because it was more costume than classy dress. It worked. But you won't catch really well dressed men dressing like that...those whose pictures are in the news because they look so good in what they wore. George Clooney and others.
csziggy
(34,136 posts)Pure and simple. If not for attention, why not just dress in comfortable, practical clothes and skip at the style and bling?
But then, for me wearing a tee shirt with a nice picture on the front is "dressing up."
nolabear
(41,984 posts)He got everything he could have dreamed of. Stupid is the last thing Id call that.
bench scientist
(1,107 posts)Link to tweet
?s=12
Lindsay
(3,276 posts)I watched Pose because I was a costumer for a number of years and the promo for the show intrigued me. I had no clue about that part of our culture, but enjoyed the show and thought Billy Porter was phenomenally good in it. Seeing the original inspiration makes it all even better.
fleur-de-lisa
(14,624 posts)It's soooo elegant. BRAVO, Billy Porter!
amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)samnsara
(17,622 posts)nolabear
(41,984 posts)in a pair of beautiful palazzo pants that I suspect were under the skirt. He looked wonderful and he was a spot on interviewer.
Mosby
(16,317 posts)That was really something.
mbusby
(823 posts)msongs
(67,413 posts)trend.
MuseRider
(34,111 posts)He was gorgeous and dignified, far better than I would have been trying to navigate an outfit like that!
I love it.
Why not?
nolabear
(41,984 posts)I do not get it.
dickthegrouch
(3,174 posts)How come no one acknowledges Jeannie Livingstons brilliant documentary from 1990 which first showed the Ball scene?