Katie Holmes’ denim-intensive & autumnal street style: love it or hate it?

Katie Holmes carries a bouquet of flowers and shops at the supermarket in NYC

Katie Holmes has been out and about this week in NYC, wearing her mask at all times like a good citizen. But Katie is Katie and she likes some wacky fashion. Earlier this week, she wore an ensemble with wide-leg jeans, a blue-and-green plaid shirt and $430 Birkenstocks. People have strong feelings about Birks but I’ve had cheap off-brand pairs and they’re fine. But I’m saying that as a comfortable-sandal lover. I love flip flops and sandals. I actually love the colors she’s working with in this ensemble – I love when people mix blue and green, and I love the combination of jeans and plaid/flannel (I’m a ‘90s girl), especially with her coordinated mask and shopping bag. That being said, I had to do a close examination on the jeans because these are like optical-illusion mom jeans. I swear, from certain angles, it looks like the waistband is elastic. Also: I will be so happy if wide-leg jeans come back into style. Truly.

Katie Holmes carries a bouquet of flowers and shops at the supermarket in NYC

Katie Holmes carries a bouquet of flowers and shops at the supermarket in NYC

Katie also stepped out on Thursday in this ensemble. She’s really feeling lighter-wash denim for the late summer/early fall I guess. I’m fine with the skirt and I love a pencil skirt, always even in denim. But the sweater! OMG. I hate that. I hate the fussy puckered detail on the shoulder seams. I hate the neck. I hate the billowy sleeves. You know Katie probably got paid to wear this! And you know the sweater probably costs like $600.

Katie Holmes is seen out on a casual stroll in Soho

Katie Holmes is seen out on a casual stroll in Soho

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

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78 Responses to “Katie Holmes’ denim-intensive & autumnal street style: love it or hate it?”

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  1. Kersplasha says:

    I love denim and plaid together (90’s 4ever!!), but agree that sweater is hideous and shockingly expensive.
    How do paps recognize the celebrities in their masks?!?

    • WilliamJoelene says:

      True! That could be anyone except I instantly recognise Katie’s awful style.

      • Still_Sarah says:

        @williamjolene : I have never understood why Katie Holmes is referenced as far as fashion goes. I like her but I don’t think she has good taste in clothes. I think her taste is quite clunky.

  2. Caitlin says:

    Not in love with either of these outfits but glad she’s wearing her mask. There was cute pictures of her and Suri in similar blue dresses the other week. They really are a beautiful mother duo. I hope tom regrets choosing Scientology over his beautiful daughter ever damn day.

  3. Darla says:

    I don’t see the need for those 430 dollar Birkenstocks. I wear them, and I absolutely adore them, but why you would need to pay 4 times the normal price I don’t know. Anyway, the sweater she is wearing has the puffy sleeve look which is THE new big thing, get ready. It’s everywhere. My one big question here is, I live in NY, and it’s been so hot, how is she wearing these clothes right now? This kind of blows her attempt at casual. These must be paid walks. I’m sorry, but it’s hot.

    • lunchcoma says:

      I was just wondering about the weather! August in New York can be pretty rough between the heat and the humidity, and I haven’t heard anything about the area having unusually cool weather recently.

      • maybe katie says:

        It was surprisingly cool yesterday morning and evening here in NYC. Not jeans and plaid shirt cool, but a welcome brief break from the heat and humidity.

    • megs283 says:

      @Darla, it must’ve been during the three fall-like days we had in the NE. Back to toasty!

    • Noodle says:

      @Darla, I am sweating just looking at her in the fall styles. I am in California, where our weather has finally heated up and we are entering the fall-fire-apocalypse. It’s so weird to think about cooler weather coming in weeks to other places.

    • manda says:

      I thought the puffy sleeve thing was already a thing? Or was the oversized cuff thing not the same? This is better than the oversized cuff!!

      I too was wondering how she could be wearing a sweater in this heat

      • Melissa says:

        Puffy sleeves have been a ‘thing’ for 2-3 years now.

        Both of these outfits are tragic — of course it’s 102 in Colorado and we are on fire, so perhaps by November I’ll think the denim midi and sweater are decent. The Mom jeans and plaid need to be thrown into the nearest fire…which isn’t that far.

    • josephine says:

      I thought there was an article about her getting paid for showing off her “street style”?? Maybe it came out when she was wearing that weird bra & cardi combo?

      It’s a great gig but I just don’t get these styles at all because they don’t flatter her figure.

      I’m particularly ticked to see those dang puffy shoulders everywhere. First the horrid dropped shoulder, now the puffy shoulder. And of course dolman sleeves. I just wanted a fitted shoulder – so much nicer looking in my opinion, and really hard to find these days.

    • Lucy schroeder says:

      Same here, and I don‘t believe they could be that expensive. They look like normal Arizonas for me. I own a lot of pairs, as I live near a Birkenstock outlet in Germany. The most expensive cost 200€. So, why? I love the lumberjack shirt, the rest not so much. Great she is wearing a mask, though.

  4. tealily says:

    I like the concept, but it all just fits weird, doesn’t it? I prefer the second look.

  5. WilliamJoelene says:

    Wide legged jeans are in fashion, but they dont look good on her. Bc she is heavy in the thighs, baggy jeans make her look moreso (I speak from experience). She should get a pair of superstretch skinnies and show her curves!

    That denim skirt only showcases her cankles (I also live this reality :)). I despair of celebs who cant find a decent stylist. What hope have we regular people if the rich and powerful cant dress well? She always looks somewhat off to me.

    • megs283 says:

      Gosh, I suggest you go easier on Katie – and yourself. <3

      • WilliamJoelene says:

        Heh I meant it uncharitably towards Katie, but lovingly towards myself 🙂 Love my big rig!

    • Flamingo says:

      She’s heavy in the thighs? You do realize that she’s like maybe a size 4. What hope do the rest of us have?

      • WilliamJoelene says:

        Sorry I meant proportionally….. She seems kinda thighsy to me lol. But she doesn’t celebrate it!

      • Granger says:

        Yeah, I would never call Katie Holmes “heavy in the thighs.” She’s really tiny, even if she has that body type that gains more weight in the thighs/butt.

        And I’m sorry, but I can’t abide by the “rule” that says women who don’t have pencil-thin ankles shouldn’t wear a certain length of skirt.

      • Joanna says:

        You guys, she does have big legs in comparison to her top half. No, she’s not fat. I’m a size 12 and I’m not offended by her comment. Katie is a pear shape.

      • Alex says:

        *squints* @WilliamJolene Are you the person out of all your friends who takes it upon herself to manage everyone’s weight? Cuz…nobody neeeeeds this from you.

    • dewdrop says:

      this reminds me of the saying that’s something like “don’t say something about yourself that you wouldn’t say to a child”

    • Joanna says:

      Yes girl! I have big thighs so I always avoided skinny Jean’s and wore boot cut, thinking I would look so fat in skinny Jean’s. But then I tried some on and I loved how they looked on me! No wide leg for me anymore!

    • manda says:

      I always thought her legs were thick too.

    • K says:

      I agree, she always looks kind of off to me. Then again, I think of her acting as off too. All crooked smile, whiny voice, tendency to look smug. She’s just very un-special on camera to me. And that extends to being photographed like this on the street. Those pants give her the weirdest tube-shaped legs! Glad she’s wearing a mask properly, though.

    • Severine says:

      If you think she has cankles, you have not really seen cankles. Heavier ankles are not cankles. Cankles is when there is absolutely no delineation between the bottom of your leg and your ankle – an extremely vertical thick tree trunk look. Her leg tapers into her ankle. She just doesn’t have delicate, thin ankles. I certainly wouldn’t call them cankles (and trust me, I’m related by marriage to someone who has truly the worst cankles imaginable).

    • Alex says:

      *squints* Are you the person out of all your friends who takes it upon herself to manage everyone’s weight? Cuz…nobody neeeeeds this from you.

  6. Erin says:

    I love the jeans and flannel with Birkenstock’s combo! Not really feeling the second ensemble, though.

    • JanetDR says:

      Agreed! The jeans remind me of late 70s jeans. We were all in low hip huggers with bells up to summer 1975 and then suddenly all the jeans were waist high with wide legs. They freaked me out at first, but were much better to sit down in 😂 I have never seen super expensive Birks, the regular ones cost enough for me! That sweater is so ugly and looks so off kilter with the bag.
      Also, I live in western New York and it was in the 30s in the morning earlier this week. I put on pants and socks for the first time since May.

  7. Faithmobile says:

    Ha! I love the sweater and could do without light washed denim-the worst of 90’s fashion.

    • elle says:

      I like the sweater, too! Wearing it with that atrocious skirt does it no favors.

      • NatureLover says:

        @ Faithmobile & @ elle, I love the sweater too, but I like a higher neckline. I am fearful of a wrinkly neck, though I wear a 50SPF. I have been wearing SPF since my late 20’s and it shows on my neck and face. She also needs some jewelry too, I think. Something delicate to balance the heaviness of the sweater. The skirt is not doing her any favors.

  8. MsIam says:

    The sweater and skirt combo is definitely a no. The jeans and shirt are better. I think Katie is tall and she can pull off the high waisted jeans look. As for me, I’m shedding tears that this look is making a comeback, same with the wide legs.

  9. smee says:

    I like those jeans – who made them?

    The plaid shirt looks like the top to PJs….too big. And yeah, the sweater thing is bad…

    Is it really cool enough in NYC to wear jeans already…

  10. (TheOG) Jan90067 says:

    I have 2 pairs of wide legged jeans Lol. I LOVE them (I do wear one pair with white low platform sneakers, and the other is longer for higher shoes. The navy emerald combo is one of my favorites. (And of course, I get to wear my emerald or sapphire bands with it 😊)

    But hasn’t it been pretty warm and humid in ny lately? Even with the rain?

  11. Jerusha says:

    I have a pair of Birks I got at a thrift store for $10.00. They had obviously never been on the ground and looked like they’d never had a foot in them. Good buy. That sweater looks like a sweatshirt you’d find at Dollar General.

  12. lucy2 says:

    It’s been nicer but still warm here in the Northeast. How is she wearing jeans and long sleeves!
    I remember having a super comfortable pair of wide leg jeans. I might be on board for that again…

  13. Flamingo says:

    I love a wide leg pant. I’m tall with a bubble butt and I can wear them to the office/ court and look professional without looking like I could balance a drink on my butt. True story: when I was a young whipper snapper, opposing counsel pulled me aside to say that I looked like a hoe in a pencil skirt. Y’all, it was from Talbots, not exactly Hoes ‘R Us, but I’ve since stuck to pants.

    • WilliamJoelene says:

      Old enough here to know this is a true story, without you saying so. Gosh I hope times have changed. I guess when all they can find wrong with you is your outfit, you’re doing very well. A decent practitioner doesn’t resort to those tactics. Be proud of yourself, and your butt 🙂

    • FHMom says:

      Omg. That’s so rude. I hope you won your case.

    • Liz version 700 says:

      Omg I know that is a true story (I have practiced for 18 years), but it makes me crazy ragey all the same.

  14. Abby says:

    Old Navy and Target were selling those balloon sleeved sweaters a couple years ago. Horrible.
    I cannot STAND those wide leg jeans, or wide leg jeans in general. They are so unflattering. She’s a tall thin woman and if anyone should be able to wear a hideous piece of fashion, it’s her, but those jeans do not flatter anyone. Please do not come back in style!!! I do love a deep blue and green plaid though! and I’m here for the Birks, too.

    • Joanna says:

      Yes, those Jean’s are fugly

    • Anne Call says:

      I wore them when I was around 15-25 in the 1970’s when everyone wore hip hugger bell bottoms or high waisted wide legged pants. After those ages, no one looks good in them…

  15. Becks1 says:

    Ha, I love the sweater in the second look! but for some reason puff sleeves like that appeal to me, it must be my love of Anne Shirley, lol.

    I actually like both looks overall – the jeans are pretty bad, I am excited for wide leg jeans to return but I think she could have found a better pair.

    I love Birkenstocks, I have really bad feet and they are the only shoes that are comfortable, but I would never pay 400 for them! But I feel like she probably did not pay for them.

    • Julia says:

      I like the sweater, too! I think it would look better if her hair was in a more sleek style, and the purse wasn’t pulling it to the side. The sweater itself has an interesting shape, but she is wearing it like a casual sweatshirt, which isn’t the best way to celebrate it.

    • Lady Baden-Baden says:

      Count me in for loving the sweater too!

      • Sarah says:

        I have a very similar sweatshirt to that sweater and I love it! It did not cost me near as much though. 🙂

    • Nev says:

      Check amazon for Birks. They won’t be 400 dollars. Good luck.

  16. Amando says:

    I wish the high waist trend would go away. Everyone looks like Urkel from Family Matters. I don’t like wide legged jeans like those, but I do miss flare and boot cut jeans being in style.

    • ChillyWilly says:

      High waist jeans make even thin women look like they have a paunch! Hate them.

    • ClaireB says:

      I’m so disappointed that high waists are back! They are so uncomfortable for me and always pull up at the crotch of the pants when I sit down. And I’m short-waisted, so those jeans would be right up under my boobs.

    • josephine says:

      I like the high waist, but I especially like when companies have a variety of rises, which many do. The high waist fits me so much better than anything else. I leave a lot untucked, though, so I don’t have to worry about them shortening my torso. The bottom line is that women are shaped so, so differently, so the more variety the better to find something that is comfortable and that flatters. I was just ranting above about not being able to find a decent sweater that isn’t dolman, doesn’t have a dropped shoulder, and doesn’t have puffy shoulders!

  17. The other one says:

    Her hair looks really good!

  18. Lavande says:

    Love the second (pale colours) outfit so much!
    The first one is fine on her. Hard to pull off but she looks ok

  19. Case says:

    I hate wide-leg jeans, but I’m always here for autumnal looks. Today was the first day I woke up and there was a slight autumn chill in my house — yay!

  20. Lori says:

    Id like to just get back to boot cut jeans. I friggin hate skinnies that are so tight in the ankles u have to lie down to get them off.

  21. fifee says:

    I like both looks but would rather the shirt wasnt tucked inside the denims but thats just my personal preference (always hated things tucked in skirts/trousers, feel constricted!).

  22. RedRoyal says:

    I like the plaid shirt. That’s it.

  23. Mina_Esq says:

    Not gonna lie – I love that grey sweater.

  24. TippyToes says:

    So much try…
    Rarely ever a win

  25. Lila says:

    I’m not a huge fan of her style but if she’s happy and comfortable, more power to her. The most important thing is that she’s modeling good mask wearing practices.

    Wearing a mask genuinely makes me feel like the temperature is a few degrees higher than it actually is. I’m all for dressing in whatever way is going to make mask wearing more comfortable.

  26. Liz version 700 says:

    Somehow I got on some blog email list for fashion. They keep talking about how these bubbles leaves are so on trend. It makes a person look like they should be starring in Dynasty. The crazy sleeves are not my jam. Glad she seems to look happy.

    • Shirl says:

      Bubble sleeves: see Elizabeth Chambers’ outfits. Her sleeves are atrocious. I’m sorry, I’ll never take to them. They’re ridiculous! Katie’s here are at least somewhat practical as in she looks like she can still do regular stuff. EC’s bubble-sleeve outfits look like hindrances.

  27. AnnaKist says:

    Jeans: Yes
    Checked shirt: No
    Denim skirt: No Way
    Sneakers: Oh, yeah
    Jumper: If there’s nothing else
    Mask: Always!

  28. Watson says:

    I like the concept of the jeans but the fit of them make her look like she’s got a pooch when she doesn’t. Maybe it’s because of the shirt stuffed inside of it?

    I also love plaid and Birkenstock’s. However i think for these jeans i would have gone for a form fitting top.

    Count me in for the sweater 100 percent though. Balloon sleeves are ridiculous and fun!

  29. PineNut says:

    basic, as you say. and she has piano legs.

  30. Marigold says:

    I like the plaid shirt.

  31. A Fan says:

    The words ‘Katie Holmes’ and ‘style’ should never be used together.

    [*Just sayin’.*]

    • Harper says:

      Katie Holmes just doesn’t have “it” style-wise. Maybe when she was younger she had it. She’s a very lovely woman who thankfully extricated herself and Suri from the CoS, but fashion icon, she has never been.

  32. SJR says:

    With all her money, why doesn’t she have a stylist/personal shopper?
    I really think she made a deal with the devil when she married Cruise.
    Can barely imagine what her married life was like on a day to day basis. Gorgeous homes to live in while you are watched, judged, followed..No!
    Sure she is wealthy after the divorce, but her personal life seems pretty sad.
    Didn’t she have an on/off relationship w/Jamie Foxx? No one since?

    Do celebs never find a Regular Joe to romance?
    I give KH huge credit for getting out with her child! She seems a devoted Mom.
    Tom is a fool and an idiot to turn his back on his child.

    • NatureLover says:

      @ SJR, she played Tom well in the divorce, thanks largely to her dad. She was able to remove him tentacles off of her and Suri. I cannot imagine it was a happy marriage, maybe at first during the “honeymoon” period. How she was able to be accepted, and that’s putting it mildly, into the cult must have been fine in the beginning, but I am certain that once she had a glimpse into what his other 2 children were put through, she was done. And WTH puts a clause in the divorce stating that she is forbidden from having a public relationship for 5 years? He is a narcissistic egotistical psychotic manipulative a$$hole. I lost any small bit of respect for him when he and Nicole divorced. He filed claiming that they had separated before their 10 year anniversary while they were actually not, due to his financial obligations to her. On top of that, she was pregnant and miscarried soon after. TC wasn’t man enough to tell her to her face, she heard it either on the news or from a friend.
      I am hoping that both women have found happier days, more peace and love without some cult follower manipulating their days, feelings and thoughts. And may Suri grow up not emotionally broken from her absent and father who chose his cult over her.

    • cf86713 says:

      She was rich before the divorce but you tried it..

      Maybe she doesn’t want to be in a relationship while Suri is young or not interested. Sometimes people do chose to be alone or maybe she doesn’t want to talk about her personal life anymore because of Suri.

  33. Wendy says:

    Re – jeans width – I have to say that I am really tired of skinny jeans – they have been around for ages! But one thing I love about skinnies is the length is so forgiving – you can just tuck them under to get the right length or fold them over. Also the length is very forgiving – almost any length looks good. I remember with boot cut or wide legged, you had to always get them shortened and had to wear the shoe or boot you planned to wear them with to the fitting. (Assuming you don’t have sewing skills) The length is not forgiving at all – they had to hit the show or boot in exactly the right spot. Then you were locked into wearing them with that heel height. So in many ways, I am not looking forward to the return of wide legged jeans. Although I still have a few amazing pairs that I never got rid of – lets hope the style more or less stays them same. I feel like you can wear almost any type of jean at the moment – and those mom cut jeans (high waist, wider leg which tapers down to skinny ankles) are what the cool kids seem to be looking for. The thrift stores are full of them – the ones my generation hang onto and gave away in charity bins.

  34. MNP says:

    I give Katie all the credit in the world for escaping Tom/Scientology (they’re each the same thing after all) with Suri. With the exception of choosing a terrible father for her child she seems like a good mother.
    I’d give a lot for her beautiful hair and face but the truth is her legs are heavy in proportion to the rest of her. Yes, overall she’s tiny and I’d love to look like her. Just don’t admire her legs or fashion choices.

  35. Shirl says:

    Some anon commenter working in advertising or marketing posted on CB that she gets 5 figures for 15, 20 minutes. I think Katie and her team are pretty savvy. They know she’s got a unique approach (even being sloppy is a talking point and helps people remember her and click through) to fashion and kind of let her roll with it. Remember when she was in that cardigan and bra? That got big coverage! She is not shy about pushing products, which to me is clearly what she does for the lion’s share of her income.

  36. Le4Frimaire says:

    She hasn’t dressed well in years. Everything seems ill fitting or not flattering.,She hides in these hideous clothes.