Katie Holmes found fame in the 1990s, and her love of all things retro is evident in her style. She frequently wears pieces reminiscent of her favorite decade, including oversized blazers, slip dresses, and high-waisted baggy jeans.
Katie Holmes’ Retro Revival: Stirrup Leggings and Denim Peplum Top
During her recent visit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she talked about the Broadway revival of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Katie Holmes brought back some of the 1990s and Y2K fashion trends: stirrup leggings, denim top, and peplum waist.
While I have a soft spot for ’90s fashion, I’m not all that impressed with Katie’s recent look. Though I gotta admit, I love the shoes.
Katie Holmes steps out in a retro-inspired denim peplum top and chic accessories as she heads to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss Broadway’s Our Town on November 27, 2024 (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Katie’s $2,990 Salon 1884 Gallo Twill top looked ill-fitting and dull, far less than one would anticipate from a fashion icon. It’s like a double-breasted blazer with exaggerated lapels and a cape-like accent attached to the shoulders.
I don’t know if this is intentional, but the long sleeves appear excessively long, and Katie had to scrunch them all up, creating a tacky, crinkled look. I also think the brown buttons are a bit outdated, but I like how the wide plunging V-neck adds a sensual touch to the top.
The peplum is a lovely addition since it gives the denim top a feminine touch and is quite attractive. In fact, peplum has been a staple on the red carpet, spotted on stars like Emma Stone, Lily Collins, Jenna Ortega, and Reese Witherspoon.
Katie Holmes embraces retro fashion by wearing a Salon 1884 denim peplum top and black stirrup leggings (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
For her bottoms, Katie brought back a piece of 1980s fashion. Stirrup leggings are tight-fitting pants that taper at the ankle and have a band or strap under the foot’s arch to keep them in place. Though initially designed as sports attire for horse riders, stirrup pants became a streetwear mainstay during the ’80s and ’90s and have been in and out of style ever since.
While stirrup leggings can be paired with boots or sneakers, I love how Katie wore hers with high heels. They kept the pants from seeming like they were made for horse riding and highlighted her striking heels.
Tory Burch Heels: A Bold Statement in Katie’s Y2K Look
Katie’s pumps aren’t your ordinary pumps. They’re from Tory Burch’s Spring 2025 collection and feature a toe slit and a sculptural curved heel. I adore how these shoes give the vintage look a playful touch.
Katie Holmes adds a playful touch to her retro-style ensemble by wearing Tory Burch pumps with slit toes and curved heels (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Luxury Bags Galore: Chloe and Manu Atelier Make an Appearance
I’m not sure why she needed two bags, but Katie was carrying two high-end bags—one from Chloe and one from Manu Atelier.
Her $745 Manu Atelier Le Cambon bag is made of silk gray nubuck and has a spacious interior and two top handles, while her $2,190 Chloe Marcie bag is cut from black grained calfskin leather with a more structured silhouette and top carry handles.
Katie kept the rest of her accessories minimal, reflecting her signature clean, relaxed style. She adorned her neck with a dainty pendant necklace and shielded her eyes behind brown gradient sunnies.
Katie Holmes styles her hair in messy waves and completes her retro look with gradient aviator sunglasses (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Effortless Chic: Katie Holmes’ Winter Normcore Outfit Steals the Show
When not on the red carpet or promoting anything, Katie Holmes often embraces a more comfortable, casual style. On the last day of November 2024, while out and about in New York City, Katie embraced her love of effortlessly chic, normcore fashion.
She looked cozy in a reversible teddy coat by Stand Studio, featuring a black faux-fur outer layer and a tan faux-suede lining. I love how the tan suede accents on the wide collar and button fastenings combine elegantly with the black fake fur. It sells for $509 (from $795) at Ssense.
Teddy coats remain one of the most popular trends in 2024. These thick coats, typically made of shearling or faux fur, can instantly add a dash of flair and elegance to any outfit while keeping you toasty warm even in the coldest temperatures.
Katie Holmes stays cozy in a black Stand Studio faux fur coat, paired with relaxed trousers and sneakers, as she heads to her Broadway play on November 30, 2024 (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)
This can be styled with jeans or leggings, but Katie kept things comfy with loose-fitting trousers. She appeared to be wearing a black rib-knit turtleneck sweater underneath, giving the ensemble a chic appearance.
Katie appeared busy as she walked the streets of Manhattan, holding a black bag in one hand and her light gray Manu Atelier Le Cambon bag in the other.
Enhancing the ensemble’s relaxed, normcore look, Katie wore the $35 Canyons of the Unknown Ranch Dad Cap and shielded her eyes behind oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses.
Katie Holmes keeps her look casual by sporting a denim Canyons of the Unknown Ranch Dad Cap (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)
Autry Medalist Sneakers: A Retro Touch for Everyday Comfort
A pair of Autry Medalist sneakers rounded out Katie’s winter chic ensemble. The vintage style and excellent craftsmanship of Autry, an American sneaker label, are evident in Katie’s sneakers.
These low-top sneakers feature a smooth leather and suede construction. They are inspired by the silhouettes of the 1980s, as seen by the tongues’ embroidered logo, perforated toe box, and exposed stitching. You can get them at Farfetch for $188.
Katie Holmes completes her laid-back ensemble with Autry Medalist sneakers (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)
Katie Holmes Stars in the Broadway Revival of Our Town
After more than two decades, Thornton Wilder’s 1938 three-act play Our Town returned to Broadway under the direction of Tony Award winner Kenny Leon.
Our Town depicts the everyday lives of the residents of the fictional American town of Grover’s Corners from 1901 to 1913.
The official synopsis reads: “May 7, 1901. Life has begun in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Milk is being delivered. Breakfast is on the stove. We meet the town gossips, the boys who play baseball and the choirmaster with a secret sorrow. And soon teenagers George Gibbs and Emily Webb will go from friends to puppy love to wedding day and beyond—two families forever joined together. And as they come to terms with the meaning of their lives, this Pulitzer Prize-winning American classic beautifully celebrates our own shared humanity.”
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Jim Parsons, an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards winner, leads an ensemble of 28 actors, including Katie Holmes, who plays Mrs. Webb, and Zoey Deutch, who stars as Emily Webb, in the production.
Our Town opened on Broadway on October 10 and is expected to run through January 19, 2025.
Katie Holmes continues to captivate with her versatile fashion choices. Recently, she embraced spring in a chic ensemble featuring Franco Sarto espadrille wedges, seamlessly blending comfort and style.
At the 2024 CFDA Awards, Katie reimagined 90s fashion by donning a Carolina Herrera color-blocked dress paired with Gianvito Rossi pumps, showcasing her ability to merge classic and contemporary trends.
Her penchant for high-end footwear was also evident when she attended the RiseNY opening in a white powersuit complemented by The Row’s Bourgeois pink satin pumps, adding a vibrant touch to her sophisticated look.
These instances highlight Katie Holmes’ evolving style and her knack for effortlessly integrating both luxury and accessible fashion pieces into her wardrobe.