For him, these outfits aren’t the sort of obligation that comes with a career as an awards circuit mainstay. They’re an opportunity to be creative through a different medium than the one for which he’s getting trophies. “I don’t just wear clothes,” he explains, “I wear stories. Every time I step out I want to be clear in the story I’m telling and what I’m representing in each moment. There’s not a moment where we don’t talk about fit or detail or tailoring, or the reasons why.”

Domingo is far from a passenger on this sartorial journey. He’s deeply involved in the process and excitedly drops points of reference for prior outfits, noting the influence of Teddy Pendergrass, Prince, and the Ohio Players on his wardrobe. (He also channelled old-school Palm Springs playboy luxe with his fit on Friday at the Palm Springs International Film Awards.) Wayman + Michah have also helped him build relationships with brands, such as Valentino, who’ve been responsible for some of his most acclaimed fits and also dressed the actor for the red carpet tonight. Domingo feels particularly attuned to the house’s work, recalling in reverence his first time attending one of their runway shows and noting their shared affinity and respect for history, reference, and reinvention.

To kick off awards season in a big way, Domingo and his stylists worked directly with Valentino creative director Alessandro Michele to develop his look. They settled on a custom black mohair wool tuxedo paired with a polka-dotted silk shirt—a detail Domingo loves from Michele’s current collection and pushed to incorporate into the look. “I want to feel classic [for the Golden Globes],” he says, “So when we began with sketches for the look I wanted more traditional tailoring, but slightly playful. Slightly maximalist.” The tuxedo is finished with a thick, billowy black-and-white checked ribbon tie, also from Valentino. Boucheron provided Domingo’s now-signature jewelry for the show, including a flashy peacock plume brooch, a chunky pinky ring in white gold studded out with diamonds, and a bold earring in the shape of a leopard with emerald eyes.

It’s a stunning fit, but it begs the question: What’s the story? “There’s something about the polka dots for me,” Domingo says, “That made me feel like I am at the center of this three-ring circus.” He’s not off in the analogy; awards season is a marathon of public performance, flashy outfits, shaking hands, and kissing babies. It’s a production—one Domingo slyly relishes. As he took the red carpet for the Golden Globes, there was no mistaking it: The master of ceremonies had arrived.