Billy Porter’s 2019 Met Gala Look: The Story Behind Those 24K Gold Giuseppe Zanotti Boots

Few moments in red carpet history have captured the essence of theatricality as effectively as Billy Porter’s arrival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

For the 2019 Met Gala, themed Camp: Notes on Fashion, Porter leaned into a “Sun God” aesthetic inspired by Diana Ross in the 1975 film Mahogany.

Billy Porter arrives at the 2019 Met Gala carried on a throne in towering gold platform boots and a radiant, winged “Sun God” ensemble inspired by ancient Egyptian royalty

While his entrance on a velvet litter carried by six men drew the initial attention, the outfit’s construction was a feat of high-concept design.

The foundation of the look was a pair of custom Giuseppe Zanotti “Atlanta” boots. These gold glitter platform boots provided the structural height necessary to balance a hand-beaded catsuit by The Blonds, which featured ten-foot wings and over one million individual crystals and sequins.

Billy Porter commands the Met Gala carpet in a crystal-drenched catsuit, sculptural gold cape, and glittering platform ankle boots that amplify the look’s theatrical grandeur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019 (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Andres Otero / WENN)

To anchor the monochromatic gold, Porter wore a 24-karat gold headpiece and a selection of jewelry—including notable turquoise rings—from Oscar Heyman, Andreoli, John Hardy, and Mordekai.

Spreading metallic wings across the Met Gala staircase, Billy Porter transforms his gold sequined platforms into part of a full-scale performance piece rooted in camp and couture spectacle

He stopped to talk with Vogue’s Liza Koshy about bringing respect back to camp and his golden Egyptian ensemble.

“Camp means irreverence,” the Pose actor told Variety when asked about his personal definition of camp. “Camp means as hugely over-the-top and grand and what some may feel is ridiculous and silly, and embracing all of those creative impulses inside us that very often are squelched.”

Porter’s approach to footwear often serves as the anchor of his most-discussed silhouettes. Earlier that same year, at the 91st Academy Awards in Los Angeles, he challenged traditional red carpet codes in a velvet Christian Siriano tuxedo gown.

To complement the weight of the gown, he opted for Rick Owens platform boots, demonstrating a consistent preference for footwear that adds both physical stature and architectural interest.

Billy Porter redefines black-tie dressing at the Oscars in a dramatic velvet Christian Siriano tuxedo gown that merges classic tailoring with sweeping red-carpet elegance in Los Angeles on February 24, 2019

Billy Porter’s Red-Carpet Legacy Is Built on Performance, Proportion, and Power Shoes

As this look makes clear, Billy Porter’s most memorable fashion moments are never just about spectacle. They use height, structure, shine, and theatrical footwear to turn the red carpet into a stage.