Katie Holmes Brings Spring 2026's Polished Pirate Trend to NYC With Pinstripe Pants and Ballet Flats

Finally, it hit our shores.

Katie Holmes was spotted in quirky color combinations, plus purple pinstripe pirate pants, ballet flats, and a tomato red bag
(Image credit: Backgrid)

From Dior by Jonathan Anderson's hats to Alexander McQueen's distressed corsetry, pirate-inspired style has dropped its anchor in the Spring 2026 circuit. On October 6, the Paris Fashion Week trend reached our shores, by way of Katie Holmes's latest street style look.

Though Holmes's Fashion Month run ended during New York Fashion Week, she's clearly keeping tabs on the runway from afar. Her latest stroll through NYC's West Village looked straight from a Spring 2026 show, starting with a white button-down blouse. She layered it underneath a fuzzy, butter yellow sweater, only letting its pleated collar peek out. Her drawstring pants—purple with lavender pinstripes—were pirate-core to the max. Even their cinched hems mimicked the ruffles of her shirt's collar.

Katie Holmes was spotted in quirky color combinations, plus purple pinstripe pirate pants, ballet flats, and a tomato red bag

Katie Holmes looked straight from a Spring 2026 show in pirate-ish pants.

(Image credit: Backgrid)

Designed for the high seas or not, Holmes's set would've been incomplete without ballet flats, which appeared to be her Mansur Gavriel pair. She could've gone with the brand's tomato red slip-ons—to match her Métier bag—but the black colorway felt more piratical. Her Métier Private Eye tote, on the other hand, was crimson-colored.

The final piece in Holmes's maritime puzzle? A green bandana. She tied the wrap atop the crown of her head, Zoë Kravitz-style. (The Caught Stealing star wore them constantly over the summer, mostly around her Brooklyn neighborhood with four-figure The Row bags.) Holmes also popped on black cat-eye sunglasses, for the finishing Kravitz-inspired touch.

If pirate-core caught your eye this runway season, don't wait until spring to take part in the craze. Say "ahoy" to pinstripe pants, buckled boots, or even a statement hat sooner rather than later. It's what Katie Holmes would want you to do.

Shop Pirate-y Picks Inspired by Katie Holmes

Meguire Hennes
Staff Writer, Fashion

Meguire Hennes is the fashion staff writer at Marie Claire, where she breaks down the celebrity looks living rent-free in her head (and yours). Whether a star is walking the red carpet or posing on Instagram, Meguire will tell you who they're wearing and why. When she's not gushing about A-listers from J.Law to Rihanna, Meguire also covers breaking industry news.

Previously, Meguire was the fashion news writer at The Zoe Report. She received a bachelor's degree in fashion studies at Montclair State University, and has freelanced at Bustle, Women's Health, Well+Good, and more. You can find her words across the fashion, beauty, health, and wellness verticals, because her Libra moon wouldn't let her settle on one beat. Follow her on Instagram for BTS moments from her Marie Claire era.