The Holmes & Yang clothing line has been quietly successful since its launch in 2009, slowly but surely making a name for itself in the industry – until Katie’s very high-profile divorce from Tom Cruise, that is.With the eyes of the world suddenly fixed on the mild-mannered brunette, her budding fashion range, that she founded with stylist Jeanne Yang, gathered interest rapidly and sales have since soared.But emotional support comes first for the best friends, who ventured into business territory together after noticing a gap in the market.
Jeanne, who met Katie on the set of Batman Begins in 2005 and continued to work as the actress’ stylist, has been a shoulder to cry on throughout her split. "She’s been an absolute rock for Katie," a friend of the pair told Heat.And the friendship goes both ways.Speaking to Elle magazine, Jeanne recalled a moment in their friendship that she found deeply touching.When her stepfather died in 2010, "Katie showed up to the funeral, very quietly, without letting anyone know," she said. "She sent my mother a package of food that was so outrageous, and my mum, having just been widowed, couldn’t believe it, like, Look at this woman, she gets followed everywhere and somehow she went through five or six car changes to get to the funeral without telling me. "She didn’t want it to be a media circus, she just wanted to be there for me as a really good friend. That’s just who she is and who she’ll always be. "But it is back to business for the design duo, who will show off the fruits of their labour when they make their debut at New York Fashion Week later this week.
But as a relatively new brand that is still working on establishing a huge celebrity fan base, many are unfamiliar with the range that is mainly sold in Barney’s, New York.So what is the Holmes & Yang aesthetic?Think understated chic, in the form of shirtdresses, cute blouses and pretty camisoles with prices ranging from £225 to £2,000."It's very simple, with very classic lines,” Katie recently said during an interview with Grazia.“It’s basically pieces that have evolved from basics, but not too far. They’re just nice, well-made luxury items that highlight the woman wearing them.”Katie seems to be on the same wavelength as pal Victoria Beckham, with both being aware that one of the best ways to raise the brand’s profile, as a megacelebrity, is to wear the designs themselves.She has been spotted putting several items on display since the venture began (pictured below).
And most notably, her first appearance after the announcement of her divorce saw her sporting the new collection’s simple navy blue shirt dress, of which fashion critics highly approved (pictured above).But in fact, designing pieces Katie could wear was exactly the motivation behind creating the line in the first place.“We started off because we wanted to have shirts that were well-made and went with everything,” she said.“I just want something I can wear all the time and nobody’s going to say, ‘Oh, I saw that yesterday’. We try to make beautiful things, and we’re not so trend-driven. "Katie and Jeanne will carry out their Big Apple presentation on September 9, the same day that her friend Victoria unveils her latest confections at the Public Library.