Billy Porter's 2020 Oscar Dress Explained

Actor Billy Porter is no stranger to stepping out in the spotlight in a big way. Known for his role in Pose and his Tony Award-winning Broadway turn in Kinky Boots, Porter made waves at the 2019 Oscars in a head-turning tuxedo dress designed by Christian Siriano. At the time, he told Vogue, "People are going to be really uncomfortable with my black ass in a ball gown — but it's not anybody's business but mine." Porter's style statement last year — which made our list of 2019's best Oscars moments — not only made waves, it left a lot of people eager to see what he'd step out in for the 92nd Academy Awards red carpet this time around. Despite not making our list of the best dressed attendees of the Academy Awards, we're still very glad to say that the multi-talented Porter definitely did not disappoint. 

Dressed by designer Giles Deacon, Porter rocked another gown, and there was nothing subtle about this one. The epic dress featured a sleeveless textured gold bodice that opened to a full-length ball gown skirt printed with Roman columns and statues. According to In Style, Porter's 2020 Oscar gown was another fashion statement. The skirt's pattern was apparently inspired by Kensington Palace's gilded cupola room. 

Designer Deacon told New York Times (via In Style), "I love the idea of Billy being this kind of messenger sent from the gods." Billy complemented his dress with a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes we'd certainly pray for. Whatever your message is, Billy, we're dazzled to behold it! 

Billy Porter also sent another powerful message when he joined the opening performance at the Oscars. What other Porter-sent divinity we can behold?

The ever-suave and stylish Billy Porter turned plenty of heads with his statement-making gold gown at the 2020 Oscars, but he also got people talking with his equally epic performance at the start of the show. Porter joined singer Janelle Monae on-stage as she led a colorful performance that started with a song from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and then broke into an all-out entertainment spectacle that featured dancers evoking some of the year's most lauded films, like the Oscar nominated 1917 and Joker, along with Jordan Peele's horror flick Us. 

The crowd-raising medley led up to Billy Porter, clad in a dazzling gold jacket and appropriately bedazzled glasses, belting out some of Oscar-winning Elton John's I'm Still Standing, while Monae tickled the ivories on a piano that was piled with flowers. The performance was so stunning that we're sure Hollywood's going to be talking about Porter for quite a while longer.