Katie Holmes Successfully Masters Summer's Most Polarizing Denim Trend: Barrel Jeans

Though Katie Holmes has been firmly in the spotlight since she was a teenager, she hasn't let stardom impact her personal style. In a recent interview with Town & Country, the Dawson's Creek alum discussed celeb life and being constantly photographed. “It's flattering, but it doesn't change how I live or dress," Holmes said.

Holmes stayed true to this ethos during her most recent public outing. On Monday, August 26, she attended a screening of her of her 2023 film Pieces of April at the the Paris Theater in NYC. Though many stars would wear a gown for such an occasion, Homes stuck to her signature laid-back style in a casual pair of jeans.

Holmes slipped into a green crushed satin top decorated with red roses. It was her dark-wash denim, however, that took a starring role. She wore a pair of black-wash barrel jeans—the polarizing silhouette of the summer. Her billowing bottoms featured a high-waisted silhouette, an ankle-skimming hem, and a slightly faded colorway that gave off an edgy feel.

Holmes enhanced her night-out look with a pair of pointed-toe kitten heel mules in glossy navy blue, sleek rounded sunglasses, and a $920 leather croc-embossed shoulder bag from A.P.C.

Back to the barrel jeans, though. The style is certainly rising in popularity, having effectively become one of the most coveted denim trend of the season. Before it hit the mainstream, the look was all over runways during the Fall 2024 Fashion Month circuit.

Parisian label Alaïa, for example, demonstrated the dramatic appeal of billowing jeans. Even ready-to-wear brands like Rag & Bone, Agolde, and Tibi are now offering similar styles.

Bottom line? This denim trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon.