Katie Holmes debuts at New York fashion week

Don't feel sorry for the Artist Formerly Known as Mrs Tom Cruise. The spring summer Holmes & Yang collection - designed by Katie Holmes along with longtime stylist Jeanne Yang - proved that she's doing just fine, thanks. Better than fine if the clothes are any indication.

Dressed in a black leather blazer, slim black trousers and wildly sequinned shoes, hair in a casual ponytail, Holmes smiled warmly if a touch nervously as she talked to editors at the brand's first proper fashion week presentation. "It's an honour to be here - this felt like a natural move for us. We really wanted to learn the business and find out what people want first."

Holmes & Yang debuted in the Fall of 2009, creating what Holmes calls "chic, everyday pieces that you can wear for anything." Importantly, 95% of it is produced in the US: "We always wanted to use the amazing people we have here to make our clothes," she says.

The new collection featured just 14 looks, simple and straightforward but with genuine charm. Quality is key: there's a quiet luxury here, evidenced in the drape of a silk tea-dress or cashmere rib trim detail on a quilted leather bomber jacket.

As Katie Holmes was talking about her favourite pieces - a spiderprint dress and an easy leather jacket "which would look so great just worn over" - someone asked if all this, the designing and promoting of it, was fun. She paused for a moment and then smiled self-assuredly. "It is. It is!"