Katie Holmes Knows the Secret to Pulling Off Culottes

In the last six months, Katie Holmes has become a seasoned fashion risk-taker. She’s proven she can take the most tricky-to-pull-off pieces—I urge you to revisit the cashmere bra and cardigan she wore this summer—and make them look completely effortless. This weekend, the stylish actor attended the iHeartRadio Z100 Jingle Ball in New York City, and only furthered the style momentum. This time she showed how to wear culottes, a tricky mid-calf pant that can go very wrong if styled incorrectly. Her solution? It’s all in finding the right shoe.

Holmes hit the red carpet in a pair of leather wide-leg culottes by Frame, which she paired with zebra-striped knee boots by Khaite. (She’s worn them before with a slip dress.) It’s a fresh approach to the flood-style hemline of her shortened pants; paired with a tall boot, and they balance out the proportion and elongate the leg. She kept the rest of her outfit simple, cleverly streamlining the silhouette overall. A black sweater by Tibi with high slits on the side lent a sexy finish, while a gold pendant necklace and bracelets added a touch of modern polish.