With Y2K fashion making another strong comeback this season, I wasn’t surprised to see Katie Holmes lean into the trend with thong sandals at the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala.
💫 Jump to Katie Holmes’ Spring Gala Style:
The iconic actress has one of the most interesting footwear collections in the industry. She never plays it too safe with shoes, always wearing something with a fun silhouette or a cool detail, and this latest choice fits perfectly into the spring footwear trend.
Katie Holmes arrives in a chic spring look, wearing an Ashlyn dress and Herbert Levine heels, at the 2026 American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 20, 2026, in New York City (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
Y2K Thong Sandals: Katie Holmes Revives the Minimalist Heel in Herbert Levine
For the event, Katie slipped into Herbert Levine’s “Kiss and Tell” suede sandals. The beige thong-style shoes had a slim, minimalist shape, but the details made them feel dressy enough for a gala. They featured cone-shaped heels around 4 inches tall, giving her extra height while keeping the overall look sleek and graceful.
The sandals were made in Italy from soft, luxe beige suede, and I love how the material can instantly make a simple shoe look more refined, especially in a neutral shade like this. The thong straps enhanced the Y2K mood, while the tiny oval buckle near the toes added a delicate detail. Those buckles were decorated with tiny rhinestone crystals, giving the sandals just the right amount of sparkle.
You can get these Herbert Levine Kiss And Tell 100 suede mules for $900 at Farfetch and Mytheresa.
Katie Holmes slips her feet into the Y2K thong-style Herbert Levine sandals featuring a rhinestone-embellished oval buckle and cone-shaped heels (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
Katie isn’t the only fan of the recently resurrected New York label. Earlier this year, Emilia Clarke was spotted in the brand’s ‘Not Half Bad’ pumps, proving that Herbert Levine has quickly become the go-to for stars looking for sculptural, ‘if-you-know-you-know’ footwear.
Summer White Dressing: Katie Holmes Pairs Her Sandals With a Textured Ashlyn Gown
Katie paired the sandals with Look 33 from Ashlyn’s Spring 2026 collection, a layered white design that tapped into fashion’s growing “dress-over-skirt” movement. The look combined a structured mini-length bodice—complete with bra-style cups, spaghetti straps, and a sweetheart neckline—with a matching ankle-length skirt underneath, creating a softer, more romantic take on the dress-over-pants styling trend that has been resurfacing in recent seasons.
The silhouette also felt very on-brand for Katie Holmes. She has long gravitated toward unconventional layering combinations, including the viral dress-over-jeans outfit she wore to the 2022 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball.
Here, though, the styling felt more refined and gala-ready. The matching textured fabric and fluid proportions gave the layered look movement without sacrificing elegance, while the airy white palette kept everything feeling light and summery rather than overly experimental.
Katie Holmes gave the dress-over-skirt trend a soft, romantic feel in textured white Ashlyn separates, pairing the layered silhouette with minimalist Herbert Levine thong heels for the 2026 American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala in New York City (Credit: Janet Mayer / INSTARimages)
Soft Smoky Glam: Katie Holmes Adds Arielle Ratner Diamonds and Undone Waves
For glam, Katie wore subtle smoky eyeshadow and kohl-rimmed eyes, which beautifully highlighted her hazel eyes. She kept the rest of her makeup soft, with a peachy glow and a neutral lip, balancing the darker eye makeup with the fresh white dress.
She completed the look with jewelry from Arielle Ratner’s Gatsby collection, including a pair of $18,860 diamond climber earrings and a $60,250 diamond collier necklace. The pieces added elegance and shine, elevating the whole outfit while still keeping Katie’s signature effortless charm.
Katie Holmes elevates her spring-summer look with Arielle Ratner jewels, smoky eyeshadow, and a wavy hairstyle (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
Why Katie Holmes’ Y2K Thong Sandals Feel So Right for Summer 2026
Katie Holmes has always had a knack for making understated shoes feel cool again, and her Herbert Levine thong sandals captured exactly why minimalist Y2K heels are back in such a big way. Between the soft suede finish, delicate toe-post straps, and sculptural cone heels, the look balanced nostalgia with modern polish—easy enough for warm-weather dressing but elevated enough for a gala night in New York.
From sleek red carpet versions to playful statement styles, these barely-there sandals continue to evolve while keeping the same effortless attitude that made them iconic in the first place.
👠 Explore More Thong Sandals, Minimalist Heels & Barely-There Shoe Moments:
- 🩴 This thong sandal guide traces the warm-weather staple Katie Holmes revived at the ABT Spring Gala, from easy flat versions to dressier, toe-baring silhouettes.
- 🤎 Ashley Benson’s Simon Miller thong sandals bring the same Y2K toe-post shape into a more playful lane, with cow print and sculptural comma heels.
- 🖤 Emma Stone’s black The Row thong sandals show how the minimalist silhouette can feel polished on a formal red carpet.
- 💗 Gaia Repossi’s metallic pink Alaïa thong heels take the toe-post sandal in a bolder direction, pairing high-shine leather with a sleek slingback shape.
- ✨ Victoria Justice and Jessica Lowndes’ minimalist sandals highlight the quiet appeal of delicate straps, exposed toes, and a clean pedicure.