Leave it to Katie Holmes to snatch our attention with a single accessory. For decades, the Dawson’s Creek alum has been playing the fashion game according to her own rules, often pairing her understated staples with a piece that totally disrupts the entire look.

On Wednesday afternoon, walking the streets of New York City, the actor and director was spotted in a naval-hued ensemble that included a dark blue trench with wide lapels and a belt accessory that cinched the outerwear along the waist. She carried a black Mansur Gavriel bag, and from underneath the coat, a light blue striped dress shirt peeked out. Down low, Holmes added a pair of beige wide-leg slacks with a strong crease down the center.