Katie Holmes for ELLE Magazine

Posted on Jul 9, 2012 in Fashion

Like clockwork, Katie’s big glamorous magazine cover drops. Why, we’d almost believe this entire episode has been as planned out as your average royal wedding or Oscars ceremony. Almost, darlings.

Tank top from Tom Ford, $750. Stretch wool trousers from Holmes & Yang, $1,150. Suspenders from Holmes & Yang. Stretch mesh bra from Maison Close, $83. Her own bracelet and ring.

Katie Holmes covers the August 2012 issue of ELLE magazine photographed by Carter Smith.

Bam. If that’s not an “I’m back on the market in every sense of the phrase” magazine cover, then we have 26-inch waists. Anyone who thinks this is all a coincidence and hasn’t been planned down to the eyelash also thinks they ride a unicorn to work every day and thus are best left to their quaint delusions.

Inside the magazine, Katie sits on a stool in a spotlight and sings an a cappella version of “I Will Survive.”

On Tom Cruise: “He has been Tom Cruise for 30 years…I know who I am and where I am and where I want to go, so I want to focus on that.”

On whether being Mrs. Tom Cruise helped her in the industry: “Things are not handed to anyone. If anything, you work a little bit harder when you’re in such visible circumstances.”

On being in her 30s: “I definitely feel much more comfortable in my own skin. I feel sexier. I think in my twenties – it’s like you’re trying too hard to figure everything out…I’m starting to come into my own. It’s like a new phase.”

Leather ruffle top, price on request, stretch wool skinny pants, $1,150, both, Holmes & Yang.

“I’m starting to come into my own” is no “As a mother, entertainer, and person,” but it’ll do. You’ve stuck the dismount, Katie, and you look pretty fucking fabulous doing it.

Attagirl. See you at the Oscars in a couple years.

[Photo Credit: Carter Smith for elle.com]

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elleg929

She looks stunning.
kikisayshi

Wow. I’m normally not a fan of hers but this is pretty fabulous all around. I just hope all this pays off for her in a very good way.
- JosephLamour
  
  Her cheekbones give me fevah. Also: a SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY dollar Tom Ford TANK TOP?! I usually don’t use all caps, but this needed it.
  - http://twitter.com/iraki86 IraKi
    
    It seems is was made of wool from the golden fleece by blind virgin nuns on the moon. That’s the only explanation I can think of.
Catiline

Like a boss.
http://profile.yahoo.com/W7A5N4G7FDTV5U2KOHBVSB55XI Basket

On whether being Mrs. Tom Cruise helped her in the industry: “Things are not handed to anyone. If anything, you work a little bit harder when you’re in such visible circumstances.”This chatter gets old. She most certainly was helped by being married to Tom Cruise. Has it been everything? No. But it has helped. Also, message received loud and clear,—-she is so over Tom.
- Sobaika
  
  I don’t know… If I were a casting director I would never hire her. Spotlight is one thing, but she will be Mrs. Tom Cruise for a long time in the public eye.
  - http://www.facebook.com/shreya.aren Shreya Aren
    
    Hell yeah! And that’s free publicity, ain’t it?
  - Alisa Rivera
    
    “Katie Holmes appears in Balenciaga at the premiere of her first film post-divorce. The stakes are high–can Katie get back the mojo she lost during her marriage? And how will she do at the box office going head-to-head with ex in Mission Impossible XIII? Stay tuned!” Cover of People. Cover of US. Cover of OK! Lead story on Entertainment Tonight. The first post-divorce interview with Diane Sawyer! Etc., ad nauseum.
  - muzan-e
    
    I’d pick her up – now. Only now. Directly in the wake of the divorce, and purely because right now the media’s thrown itself headlong into such a frenzy of Katie’s First Taste Of Freedom! that viewers might actually be breathless to see what she’s going to make of herself. I’d go all the way back to Katie ala Disturbing Behaviour, and give her something smoking hot, undeniably edgy; something fierce with a core of sweetness. Not even remotely art house, but absolutely entertaining; an opportunity for her to prowl all over the screen.
    
    The first post-divorce film doesn’t have to be stellar. It just has to demonstrate that she’s a person rather than an attachment, and that she knows how to hold your eyes.
  - sarahjane1912
    
    Aww … that’s a bit harsh, I think.
    
    As TLo quipped above ‘see you at the Oscars in a couple of years’, a reference [I suspect!] to the fact that Nic split from Tom in 2001 and a mere two years later, the clever little thing nabbed an Oscar for ‘The Hours’. I, for one, will be interested to see how Ms Holmes’ career unfolds; she’s not untalented.
    - Sobaika
      
      Yeah, but the frenzy around Tom & Nicole never reached couch-jumping, cycling-in-Italy, couture-wearing-baby madness. And Nicole had a bit of a career before Tom, as opposed to Katie Holmes… I think most people only associate her with Dawson’s Creek.
      
      It’s not like I’ve studied her body of work, but I wouldn’t call her particularly talented.
- NC_Meg
  
  I thought being married to him really hurt her career. He kept working but what has she done in the past 5 years? That Kennedy thing than never made it to air?
  - JohannaEG
    
    She was on Broadway several seasons back.
    - NC_Meg
      
      Now that you say that, I remember hearing about it. I looked her up on IMDB and it looks like she’s done quite a bit since 2010. With that said, the only things I’ve heard of off the list are a guest appearance on HIMYM and that awful looking Adam Sandler movie from last year.
    - http://twitter.com/BrickMercury Brick Mercury
      
      She was also in Sandler’s ‘Jack and Jill’… so maybe her career did take a hit for being part of TomKat.
- http://www.thirteen.org/downton-abbey/category/the-downton-dish/ Gotham Tomato
  
  Or, you could say that being with her helped him.
  
  –GothamTomato
  - Call me Bee
    
    Hey, GT! Nice to see you again–been a while. –Toni in Milwaukee
AnaRoW

“See you at the Oscars in a couple years.”

Oh is she going to be dating another Oscar-nominated actor in a couple of years?
- Anna Maria Diamanti
  
  Seriously. Whatever the similarities of their other circumstances, Katie Holmes is no Nicole Kidman in the acting department. Katie doesn’t have enough presence to present an Oscar, nevermind be nominated for one.
  
  That said, this is a fabulous spread. And the timing of it suggests girls has something going on underneath that head of hair after all. Good job Katie!
  - EditKitten
    
    She was fantastic in “Pieces of April.” There are some hidden chops in there, I think.
    - JosephLamour
      
      I also think traumatic experiences help an actor reach a vulnerability. Say what you will about her, but I love the fact that realized that your beard marriage to a crazyfoo should be over when it messed with her kid. I mean, if that reason is true.
    - TieDye64
      
      Even my husband loved “Pieces of April”, which was surprising since it’s normally not his sort of movie. Excellent. Couldn’t agree more.
    - Snarky_Amber
      
      Considering how perfectly orchestrated this divorce has been, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has Oscar bait projects lined up, and with the right vehicle, we’ll probably see her develop a craft she seems to have left behind since Pieces of April. Regardless of her talent, that girl is working with the Right People, and I have no doubt we’re about to see her in more serious actor roles now.
http://aldonsusi.blogspot.com/ Susi R

She looks amazing!
MilaXX

Timed to the T. And just as everyone was gearing up for an ugly divorce, I read that they have reached a settlement.
- bitchybitchybitchy
  
  Much to the dismay of the tabloid press, I’m sure, but if they have, good for them and their child.
http://twitter.com/MandySCG MandyJane

$1,150 stretchy pants?!!! lol… she does look amazing, though. Especially in the stretchy pants.
- http://www.facebook.com/malicegrant Malice Grant
  
  This was the kicker for me: “Leather ruffle top, price on request”
  - http://iamthelizardqueen.wordpress.com Lizzie
    
    And if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
    - Little_Olive
      
      It’s like they assume if you have to ask you’ll probably be too afraid to face the salesperson
Melissa Brogan

Hate that fucking smirk she does all the time, but even I’ll admit she looks fantastic. WERQ the divorce press, girl.

edit: just saw the Vanity Fair article. They’ve settled already and her attorney sounds triumphant.
- alyce1213
  
  That fucking smirk is the result of re-training her smile because of Bell’s Palsy.
  - Melissa Brogan
    
    Not that I want to get into an e-fight about Katie Holmes, but that is a rumor that hasn’t been substantiated (unlike, say, George Clooney’s own experience with Bell’s Palsy).
    - alyce1213
      
      You need a doctor’s note? It is not a rumor, it is generally acknowledged.
    - Little_Olive
      
      Well that would certainly speak well of her. I think I prefer that, than having her don expensive outfits for the charity.
      - http://profile.yahoo.com/KVUKHXSEXSKTCWRW6YCUGVL554 Likes
        
        Is there even such a thing as a Bell’s Palsy charity? LOL. I had it almost 2 years ago and my face is a little lopsided still so I can empthasize with ms. holmes
MK03

Does this mean she’s allowed to smile again?
- bitchybitchybitchy
  
  In addition to now being able to wear high heels, Ms. Holmes may also smile!
Pants_are_a_must

That is the best she’s looked in years. That is also probably a personal best for her in terms of magazine photoshoots.

Now call Chris Nolan again, say you’re all better, get on his next project and start working towards that Oscar.
AlexisPayne

Ugh, tag lines like “unleashes her new sexy side” annoy me because those jewelry ads and other editorials she’s done are always smoldering.
Love her hair like that, I wish she could transfer some of her editorial style into red carpet/street looks.
- http://www.facebook.com/izzzyy Dixie Murphy Ross
  
  and those ads are way sexier than “here, check out my bra” on the cover. blech.
Scimommy

Wait, don’t you have to know how to act to win an Osc… (remembers Julia Roberts) Never mind. See you at the Oscars, Katie.
- TieDye64
  
  She blew me away in “Pieces of April”. It was very a very subtle yet real performance, and I’m not normally a fan. It was a fab.
  - EditKitten
    
    Totally agree! I love pulling that movie out before the holidays.
Dan_In_NYC

“Attagirl.” I choose to believe that TLo, like me, hears the drunk secretary’s voice on 9 to 5 saying “Attagirl,” every time you type it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j73GwyEyXps
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DLXTFJUFG6ITIDTVP54CMMO6V4 SusanB

Not sure who that is on the cover, other than someone with photoshopped contouring. Katie, you say?
- http://twitter.com/starrika Ali
  
  Rose Byrne, I think.
guest2visits

Am I bringing the rain.. eleven hundred dollar black stretch pants. And Tom Ford; love your designs…but a 750.00 cotton tank…
She looks fine, I guess. These two pics don’t say very much to me.
http://profiles.google.com/hillaryschuster Hillary Schuster

Google her singing On My Own from season 1 of Dawson’s.
alyce1213

The cover is almost unrecognizable. The inside shot, pretty great.
GorgeousThings

“See you at the Oscars in a couple years.”

Why, is she taking acting lessons, finally? She and Natalie Portman have the same range. About 1.
- http://twitter.com/TheRedZavodnik Ginger
  
  *ducks* I like Natalie Portman…at least in Black Swan. Maybe I was just blinded by the ballet?
  - AudreysMom
    
    Yeah, as much as I disagreed vehemently with Natalie Portman’s win for Black Swan (one note, wide-eyed) esp in comparison with the 4 she was up against, she has about 10 times the acting talent that Katie Holmes does. If Katie goes to the Oscars in a few years it will be as a) a presenter, and/or b) accompanying a nominee as AnaRoW said above.
    - Isadora Paiva
      
      I strongly disagreed with her win for Black Swan as well, but anyone who has seen Closer can’t compare her to Katie Holmes. She won the Golden Globe for that, and I thought it was totally deserved.
- Sobaika
  
  I’m no Portman fan, but don’t think Katie Holmes is even in the same league. She was forgettable in every movie I’ve seen her in – only Batman & Thank You For Smoking, but still. I did watch Dawson’s Creek and my 13 year old self tells me that Katie might have had a girl-next-door-charm, but that’s been leached away from her by age and Mr. Cruise.
  - alyce1213
    
    Didja see Pieces of Eight?
    - Sobaika
      
      No, but I added it to my Netflix queue after all the Katie talk in the comments here recently.
      - AudreysMom
        
        Yes, quite good, probably her best. Although she was helped by an excellent supporting cast, quirky, meaningful script and talented director.
    - TieDye64
      
      Pieces of April, actually. Fantastic!
      - alyce1213
        
        D’oh. I wrote that too quickly.
  - formerlyAnon
    
    I deeply admire your correct spelling of “leached.”
SapphoPoet

I’ve never seen her in anything so I have no idea if she can act or not, but she looks fabulous here. She should just model beautiful clothing for a living.
http://profiles.google.com/rosatcollege Ros Clarke

Katie Holmes is in her thirties? I’ll be over here, in shock.
nannypoo

She looks great. Kind of slutty, but great.
http://asskickingadviser.com/ Ass Kicking Adviser

Oh, no I don’t think we’ll be seeing her at the Oscars. You two have much more faith in her than I do. I certainly hope she goes away. But that is probably hoping for too much. And I think I dislike her a little more today for trying to bring back suspenders. No.
- http://www.wordydoodles.com WordyDoodles
  
  AMEN!
Spicytomato1

The cover sort of gives me an 80s vibe…love it. She looks so angular on the cover, much softer and younger in the inside shot, almost girlish. I’d venture to guess she was already planning her escape when the shots were taken, hence the anti-aging effect. Or maybe it’s just Photoshop.
BazoDee

She looks amazing. Only quibble -the over contouring of her face.
alyce1213

Show’s over, folks. They just signed a divorce settlement.
- formerlyAnon
  
  Either they both are uncharacteristically (for a divorcing celebrity couple) mature & reasonable individuals or she has got the goods on him.
  
  Either way, I hope the best for Suri & that she gets two reasonably sane parents (& future step parents) out of the deal.
  - alyce1213
    
    My guess is he — and by “he” I mean his Scientology advisors — didn’t want dirty laundry aired. Hence, quick settlement, no court.
    - Alisa Rivera
      
      Even if he was in a hurry, I don’t see how it’s possible for these two to have settled up already. He’s worth $250 million, she’s worth $25 million and they have a kid. How can you possibly comb through all the assets, decide on custody/visitation schedules, agree on schools, etc. in that amount of time?
      - alyce1213
        
        They may have had terms specified in the pre-nup. The lawyers probably drafted a settlement that they agreed to, details to be filled in before signing and finalizing the divorce.
        
        My lawyer friend says sometimes settlement/divorce is quicker when there’s lots of money to go around than when spouses are in forced to fight over nickels and dimes. I’ve noticed that a lot of high profile, big money divorces go quickly.
      - formerlyAnon
        
        I bet the division of assets was specified in a pre-nup, and that having seen what happened with her step children, the one thing she had worked out in exquisite detail before hand was exactly what she wanted with regard to custody & related issues.
  - lovelyivy
    
    OR she had an iron-clad contract from the day they got married. My personal (cynical) favorite theory.
Judy_J

If you hadn’t told me that was Katie Holmes on the cover, I never would have known it was her. She is much more recognizable in the second photo.
Jill Roberts

Elle is not doing her any favors emphasizing her sexuality during a custody battle. Hope she gets a liberal-minded judge.
- Sobaika
  
  Vacillating between anger at the idea that her sexuality has anything to do with custody, the sinking realization that for many women that’s truly the case (although they’re not pretty lily-white celebs), and laughter that a judge would deem Tom Cruise a better parent than anyone.
  - alyce1213
    
    It’s moot now, but the sexuality exhibited in this magazine is so tame. It would have absolutely no bearing on custody, whatsoever.
http://profile.yahoo.com/QK3MTAHUVJCMI7DANY6WFCAIUM n a

thank you for pointing out that this is all a dismount! the entire routine planned and likely in the contract pre baby and pre nuptuals. Cuz… what else does Katie have going on that she would garner the cover of Elle for July…? A guest judge on Project Runway- yah,usually takes a bit more to score a celebrity cover– it’s not like they plan these covers months in advance or anything… (insert snark)
Imasewsure

She’s really cute but so amazingly dull… I’m too old to have done the Dawson’s Creek scene so I’ve literally never seen her do any official acting at all but (at least Neve Campbell who is her clone to me, did a movie I’ve heard of)… so congrats to her to moving on.. but please just keep on moving….ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
http://twitter.com/Mylynka Mylynka

GO! KATIE! GO!
TomBord

Love the ‘i’m just a shell of a woman, kidman style’ vibe.
http://twitter.com/GuidosDaddy Jason M. Galloway

Has no one seen “Pieces of April”?? SO good! she’s great in it.
- TieDye64
  
  Yes! Even my husband loved that movie.
Matt Bailer

Hasn’t he been Tom Cruise for 50 years?
- http://twitter.com/Goldielox73 Goldie
  
  No, he was Thomas Mapother IV. But, I think she means TOM CRUISE – MOVIE STAR.
EEKstl

She does look great, love the hair.
kmk05

That is one harsh contouring job on her cheekbones I’m not a fan. Really like the pose and the tone of the second pic, though!
formerlyAnon

I’m impressed at how well done this (the media campaign) seems to be. I’m not a huge fan, but she doesn’t actually come off looking *too* silly here, given the range of possibilities.
rainwood1

Looks like Katie saw what happened to Wife No. 2 and wanted to make sure she didn’t get the same. It probably helps that Daddy is a divorce lawyer, but congrats to Katie for having the savvy to take charge of her life and get the hell away from the creepiness that is Tom Cruise.
Alisa Rivera

Two multimillionaires settled their divorce in ten days? Something really doesn’t smell right. I wonder what was worked out well in advance of Katie moving to New York.
AlinaValero

she looks amazing and i’m dying for her hair.
- Caaro3
  
  That isn’t her hair and she didn’t even buy it herself. I don’t know who that’s supposed to be on the cover; I only recognize the smirk in the second pic. I’m starting to HATE all celebrity bullshit and I don’t want to be in that place. I think maybe these two are the biggest bullshitters of all. Going to puke now.
Wendi126

$1150 for trousers seems quite reasonable after $750 for a tank top. A fucking tank top. $750. No sleeves. It’s cute. Wonder how many colors it comes in. 750 mother fucking dollars for a shitty white tank top. I’m sorry. I’ll move on now.
- muzan-e
  
  Yeah, but consider the manufacturing process. Handwoven by monks perched in meditation upon one of Tibet’s tallest peaks, using only the finest angora fibers plucked by virgins from the pelts of rare Patagonian rabbits under the light of a starry full moon. Infused with mother-of-pearl, rinsed twice in dew procured during the dawn’s early light, blessed by the hand of Her Holiness He –
  
  … yeah. Okay. It’s just a tank. And I died a little inside when I saw the tag. *g*
http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/ Tom and Lorenzo

You are absolutely spot on, my brother.
marilyn

I think she is too old for this look. She needs to move on to a more adult image.
Anathema_Device

Atta girl, indeed. She looks like an actual model on that cover and less smirky girl next door, as she usually does.

She is waaaaaay smarter and more savvy than I ever gave her credit for being.
Anglow

I thought these magazines were arranged months before publication! How long has it been since she announced her divorce, 2 – 3 weeks? How conveniently timed this all was……
- formerlyAnon
  
  For “conveniently” substitute “carefully.”
  - Caaro3
    
    Or perhaps for “carefully”, substitute “crassly”.
andreawey

fucking fierce!
http://twitter.com/Highlandista Highland Fashionista

Hopefully we will all be able to get to know her a bit better now. There is talent there, to be sure, but circumstances being what they are…
http://phantomminuet.blogspot.com/ MinAgain

The photo-shopping on the cover is overwhelming and Stepford-esque. I don’t like it.
LambeeBaby

I think she looks fab! I must not be very savvy tho, since I have a hard time picking out the photoshopping every time someone comments on it.
Lauren Davies

See you at the Oscars…as an attendee. Red carpet staple. Whatever – NOT a nominated actress.
TieDye64

Attagirl, indeed. You go and be fabulous, girl!
RzYoung

Oresome
DCSheehan

The next ex-Dawson’s star who should be Oscar nominated is Joshua Jackson. He’s seriously underrated as an actor. Bonus, we get Kruger on the red carpet with him.
NurseEllen

I keep seeing Barbara Feldon”……remember her from the old “Get Smart” tv show?
littlemac8

Does anyone remember Wonder Boys? I quite liked her in that but it may be that I enjoyed the movie more than her performance!
http://twitter.com/kerrymccombs Kerry McCombs

She’s gorgeous and she’s always had great potential as an actress. I loved her in Wonder Boys. I hope she can put this phase of her life behind her and have a great comeback. And she got an adorable little girl out of the situation. Even if Suri is most likely a robot.
Call me Bee

Well good for her. She’s shown that she’s beautiful–stunning, really–and classy as well. Well done!
quiltrx

“See you at the Oscars”???? What, as a trophy girl?
Lisa

Daaaaamn, girl! Fabulous!

Kind of ironic that you can clearly see her wedding ring on the cover shot, LOL! I guess she knew at the time of the photo shoot that she couldn’t exactly take it off, ha ha!
Judy Raddue

Outside of Holmes’ family, there’s certainly nobody prouder of her than the second Mrs. Cruise. Not only did Katie escape, but she put the famously litigious Cruise in a position where he could do nothing but concede… Seriously, I’m in awe.
OffToSeeHim

I can’t get any farther than “Tom Ford TANK TOP $750.”
Diego!

She looks amazing!!! Way to go Katie, thank God you got rid of that jerk!

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Katie Holmes for ELLE Magazine

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