Katie Holmes Impresses Crowd at Fashion Week Show

Moving on from her very public split with Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes received glowing reviews from buyers and editors on Wednesday, when she presented her fashion line, Holmes & Yang, at New York Fashion week for the first time.

The actress-turned-clothing designer and her partner, Jeanne Yang, opted for a small affair for their 14-look presentation. Shirking the limelight, the duo chose to present in one of the more intimate spaces at Lincoln Center, called "The Box," which typically accommodates smaller events like press conferences, industry forums, and fashion presentations.

"It's an honor to present here," said Holmes, speaking on microphone to the small gathering of buyers and editors, reported Britain's The Sun. "It felt like a very natural step, because it's not a whole big fashion show, it's a presentation."

Although Stylist.com reports that the room can only hold a maximum of 450 people standing, the Holmes & Yang designers decided to go a more low-key route for their first showing, choosing not to invite celebrities or include a traditional catwalk, which lessened their space requirements.

"It reflects the way that we design and the way we've always run our business, which is very quietly and relaxed. So we felt that this was a natural step to have more of an audience and show more buyers," added Holmes.

So far this year, "The Box" has showcased many smaller-scale shows including designers like Venezuelan architect-turned-eveningwear designer Angel Sanchez, Marissa Webb, who was formerly the head of design at J. Crew before going solo, Erickson Beamon, Clover Canyon, Kaelen, Monika Chiang, and Rafael Cennamo.

Before the presentation, the 33-year-old actress helped prep models backstage, making last-minute adjustments to their outfits, before stepping out to welcome attendees and mingle with the crowd, reported the Daily News.

Vogue called the presentation a "well edited, jovial collection" that "needed little explanation.

"Holmes has long been admired for her ability to make the casual look exceptional, with Yang as her behind-the-scenes tutor, and this succinct collection proves that, even for a celebrity with access to everything, sometimes less is more."

"I feel like it's still starting to grow," said a buyer who spoke to the Daily News. "It's a very new collection. It's a good start, though, and this was their first presentation."

But whether Holmes becomes a fashion success, or just another actress part-timing in the industry, remains to be seen. If she wants to be taken seriously, experts suggest she will have to continue to prove that she's willing to be involved full-time in her brand. "The lines that are successful are very authentic," said Susan Kaufman, the Editor in Chief of People StyleWatch to ABC news. "The key is the celebrity being involved, being involved in the look and the concept, and to be proud to wear the clothes."

In addition to her burgeoning line, Holmes is also scheduled to collaborate with the makeup brand Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and will appear in their new ad campaign for spring 2013.