Katie Holmes discusses that infamous cashmere bra photo: ‘I thought sexy, I can do that’
Katie Holmes has spoken about the sartorial decision that made her an unintentional influencer.
Last August Katie Holmes was pictured sporting a Khaite cashmere bra and matching cardigan to casually hail a cab in New York, as you do.
The image quickly blew up online, with people fawning over the former Dawson’s Creek actor’s effortlessly chic, yet sexy look.
Illustrating the power of an iconic fashion moment, the cute set sold out within an hour of Katie wearing it, but has since been restocked.
On the brand’s website, the Eda Bralette retails for $520 (£427.15), while the Scarlet Cardigan comes in at an eye-watering $1,540 (£1,265.05).
Holmes, 41, certainly didn’t imagine that her outfit choice would cause such a sartorial stir.
In the April issue of InStyle, which features Holmes as the cover star, she explained how the moment came about and why she wasn’t looking to become a style influencer.
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Turns out it was about trying to inject a little sexy into her life.
“Honestly, I wasn’t feeling so sexy. And I saw that and was like, ‘Sexy. I can do that!'” Holmes explained.
“I thought it would be good if I was in a cabin sitting by the fire and wore the [matching] sweater over it. That’s how my brain works. But then I was like, ‘Oh, wait, I’m not in a cabin, and I’m not going to a cabin.’ I still thought I could pull it off, though. I had noticed other people wearing bras with blazers.”
Read more: Katie Holmes proves polka dot tights are the perfect LBD partner
But Holmes had no idea the two-piece would cause such a buzz.
“I didn’t want to get into trouble with my teenager!” she revealed of her 13-year-old daughter Suri.
“We were school shopping, and I was just trying to hail a cab on Sixth Avenue.
“It looked way more glamorous than it was,” she added laughing.
Holmes also opened up about the changing beauty pressures she’s found herself facing as she’s got older.
“I'm basically always putting lotion on,” she told the magazine.
“I do all that Barbara Sturm stuff: hyaluronic, face brightening, face cream, skin cream. It's so vain. But that happens. It kind of hits you.
“It’s very odd. I used to get away with no makeup. When I was a teenager and a young actress, it was about being sort of grungy. Now I’m like, ‘Oh god, I have to do stuff!’ It sounds so superficial.”
And though she still keeps up a fitness routine being a forty-something also means she has to take some extra precautions.
“Now I have to really stretch after the Peloton,” she says. “Otherwise my back hurts, and it defeats the purpose. When you're forty-plus, you've really gotta take your vitamins.”
The actress also paid tribute to her daughter, Suri, praising her for her strength, particularly as she’s grown up in the limelight.
“I love her so much. My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality. To make sure she is 100% herself and strong, confident, and able. And to know it,” she said.
“She came out very strong — she's always been a strong personality. She'll pick an activity and work her butt off until she's really good at it. Then she's like, ‘OK, I'm going to try the next thing.’ She's very focused and a hard worker.”