Katie Holmes Returns to Her Ballet Flat Roots in Classic Chanel on ‘Happy Endings’ Set

Katie Holmes kept things grounded on Tuesday in New York, filming “Happy Hour” in a look anchored by a low-profile footwear classic: the black Chanel ballet flat.

Her shoes — the French house’s signature ballet flat in lambskin and patent calfskin — brought a quiet polish to the actress’s off-duty character styling. The round-toe silhouette is shaped with a low vamp and leather bow, featuring a contrast patent cap toe embossed with the interlocking CC logo. The matte lambskin provides pliability, while the glossy patent toe adds contrast. That tactile interplay has helped make Chanel’s flat an enduring staple.

The choice marks Holmes’ return to one of her most recognizable silhouettes. While she’s recently embraced cowboy boots and mesh flats on the“Happy Hour” sets, ballet flats, particularly in subdued neutrals, have long been part of her public-facing wardrobe. In March, she stepped into the barely there trend early with a brown woven pair and wide-leg denim.

The actress paired the flats with fluid navy wide-leg trousers and a loosely layered denim shirt over a floral-printed white blouse. The denim-on-cotton layering nodded to her style signatures while the grounded black flat kept the look anchored. No visible bag or statement accessories were present, save for layered gold jewelry and a takeaway coffee, reinforcing the scene’s lived-in feel.

Holmes’ flats join a broader embrace of ballet silhouettes among celebrities this summer. Sydney Sweeney wore Miu Miu’s rebellious take on the flat to the Bezos-Sánchez wedding, while Jennifer Lawrence and Bella Hadid have cycled through mesh and crochet versions throughout spring. Chanel, for its part, has kept its shape consistent over the decades — low vamp, round toe, tonal bow — keeping it firmly in the classic silhouette category.

Between her broken-in boots and these heirloom-soft flats, Holmes’ on-set shoes hint at a character caught between comfort and composure. “Happy Hour,” directed by Bart Freundlich, follows a woman starting over post-divorce.