The anatomy of style: Katherine Heigl’s fashions on a budget
Katherine Heigl is tall, curvy, blond and beautiful. I’m tall, bottle-blond, not so curvy as I would like and well…THF tells me I’m beautiful! (And that’s all that matters, right?)
Who wouldn’t want to emulate Katherine’s style? It’s easily copied (you’ll see), full of easy-to-wear neutrals and she always dresses for her gorgeous body type. What I’ve noticed most about Katherine’s red-carpet outfits, as well as her everyday wear, is that she wears clothes that work for her, not necessarily adhering to seasonal trends. That’s an easy formula for any girl to follow, and for a on-the-go girl like me, it makes going from school to work to a date as easy as changing your shoes.
It’s hard sometimes for me to dress appropriately for classes and work. I don’t want to show up for classes in a pinstriped blazer and matching trousers, but neither do I want to go to work wearing Uggs and jeans. Because I have to go straight from one to the other, it’s important to wear versatile clothing in professional, neutral colors to carry me through my entire day. I know lots of women who have this problem and ask themselves, “What can I wear that’s casual enough for the day, but dressy enough for everything else I have to do?”
I present Exhibit A:

I love the way this outfit looks chic and professional, but gasp! She’s still wearing jeans. Katherine’s outfit has just enough color for me, too. Some colors, like this peach, function just as easily as black, gray or white, especially when you pair the color with denim on the bottom.
Try this adorable jacket from Nordstrom on the top:
And instead of the peach Katherine’s wearing, I like the chambray blue of this Gap shirt.
One of the focal points of Katherine’s outfit are her great wide-leg jeans. This pair of classic Levi’s should do the trick:
Ankle boots look great with wide-leg pants. They are substantial enough to balance the proportions of the pants. Also, the more rounded toe of the boot is more flattering with wide-leg jeans than a pointy-toed shoe.
And to top it off, some retro sunglasses.
Exhibit B:

I love how plaid (very trendy, obviously) is used in this outfit, but doesn’t detract from the professional look of it. By keeping the other elements crisp and clean, you can get away with wearing more risky pieces, like a plaid jacket or bright-colored shoes or a standout handbag.
Try this plaid jacket from Forever21: it’s inexpensive and the color and plaid aren’t too overwhelming.
I love Isaac Mizrahi’s line for Target. The clothes have a great fit and cut for the price. This button-down shirt also happens to be on sale right now.
Part of the modern look of Katherine’s outfit is that her pants aren’t wide-leg or flared, but more a straight, skinny fit. This pair from Hudson on Bluefly.com is significantly less than the retail price of the pants.
As you can tell, Katherine’s signature looks always include a great pair of sunglasses.
Some ankle boots would look great with the cut of the pants.
Exhibit C:

I love this outfit. I wear black and white all the time, and I like how edgy pieces like knee-high boots don’t look trashy with this, just chic. Plus, wearing a coat that matches your handbag pulls the outfit together without being too “matchy.”
Start off with a great black shift dress. Because I like to make sure my clothes are work-appropriate, I like how the hem on this isn’t too long, but isn’t short enough that I couldn’t wear it out.
I collect opaque black tights like they’re going out of style–which they very well might be in the near future–but until then, they will be an essential in my closet. They add sophistication to dresses that may be too casual for work, and they provide an extra layer of warmth in the winter so you can wear things you might not be tempted to otherwise.
Wearing more substantial boots with an outfit like this is important. You don’t want what I call the “hooker-boot” effect, which is wearing a cheap-looking pair of stiletto, pointy-toed boots with clothes that would be otherwise chic.
To counteract the potential demureness of this with all the black, wear a coat on the other end of the color spectrum, like this white one from Nordstrom. Leave it unbuttoned for Katherine’s casual look.
And for a sophisticated white purse–they can be hard to pull off–carry a quilted one like this.
Exhibit D:

I love Katherine’s red coat. It completely makes the outfit, and that’s what’s so great about coats. Adding a really chic one can give what you wear an entirely different element.
Try this one from ASOS, which is an excellent source for designer look-a-like clothing.
Instead of Katherine’s pointy-toed platforms, update them with a more squared-toed version this season from Jessica Simpson’s shoe line.
And, of course, Katherine’s signature look- matching purse and coat. I adore thisdoctor-bag style from Urban Outfitters. It’s inexpensive (about $50), but has a really luxe look to it for the price.
Exhibit E:

This is one of my favorite photos of Katherine. She looks immensely chic and I adore her wide-leg pants. It’s harder for short girls to pull off this look, but if you aren’t blessed (cursed?) with Amazon-like features, just keep the proportions even like Katherine did here.
These wide-leg pants from Roxy, of all brands, are sold from Nordstrom. The trouser-like quality to them really adds a touch of class to denim, and that’s nothing to turn up your nose at. Finding jeans that can work for work is a rarity.
Pair your wide-leg jeans with a short-sleeved cardigan to balance out the look. Try this unusual kimono-sleeved version from Old Navy.
If you have any favorite celebrity looks, or a look Katherine wore that I didn’t cover here, feel free to let me know and I’ll try and come up with affordable alternatives.
(Photos courtesy of people.com)
Comments (3)







3 Comments
KH’s wardrobe is pretty basic: pants, top, shoes and a handbag. There’s nothing interesting about it, the pieces are cute but nothing that screams great style. She pretty much wears the same thing everyday.
As for curvy, sorry a woman with no hips or butt is not curvy. She has big breast, that’s pretty much it.
Anonymous, you’re right. Her style IS very basic, and that’s what makes it so wearable. In case you haven’t noticed– pants, a top, shoes and a handbag are very popular items for women to wear. Why not make them basic, cute and versatile? If you look appropriate, comfortable and “cute,” who is to say that’s not having “great style”?
I may be a less-than-adequate authority on body types, but I don’t understand why people–and especially women–insist that OTHER women can only exist in three body type categories: skinny, curvy or fat.
I’m skinny, a “beanpole.” I’ve got a little boy’s body type: truly, my butt does not bubble and my hips are straight in line with my waist. My chest is a respectable B-cup, but nothing to write home about.
I ADMIRE what curviness Katherine has because I—and a lot of other women—-don’t have it. Just because she does not have enough curviness to suit you, for example, does not mean she does not have a lovely body that women such as myself can look upon with envy.
P.S. When did having naturally big breasts count AGAINST you as a woman?!?
Great article. Katherine is awesome and I love her style. Though when you are as stunning as she it is pretty much possible to wear anything. She would look beautiful in a burlap sack.