There have been two defining moments in Katie Holmes's career: Dawson's Creek and Tom Cruise. The first, whilst at the time significant, was a model's morsel of celebrity. Katie wasn't a standout; it was Dawson's Creek and not Katie/Joey's Creek or simply The Creek. She was just another teen-in-TV, whose fame rose swiftly only to descend into the abyss of her twenties.

The second moment, defined by a couch jump and wooed by a bank roll, was Tom Cruise. For those trying to save Katie, stop. The negative media hasn't infiltrated her stratospheric climb up the Hollywood ladder, nor has it tainted her newly-acquired appetite for all things luxurious. In the words of McDonalds, she's loving it.

Her post marriage morph, has suspended Katie from dressed-down and homely Sandra Bullock into the synthesis of Paris Hilton, Posh and JLO. A heady cocktail of power, wealth and media attention which includes magazine covers, shopping trips in Paris and the acquired catchphrase: life is perfect, Tom is wonderful and Suri is a beautiful woman (at the age of two?).

Katie is however likeable. Her style, at the moment, is too contrived and over planned. Like new money, her look is fashion forward but not necessarily her own. Style icons are women whose style is a unique expression of their lifestyle.

In the past, we admired Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Today, Gwen is the timeless rock chick. Dita Von Teese is the Pin Up. JLO is the queen of opulence. Posh is the dress up doll. Kate Moss is the effortless Indie Girl.

Flailing fashionista
Katie hasn't yet found her style niche. She's overexposed to fashion options and like a kid in candy store, she's over indulged. It's not uncommon. When we build our wardrobe, it's a cycle. We learn as we grow and if you look back at any of the style icons listed, you will see that prior to reaching their status; they too made many a fashion faux pas.

She certainly has a taste for European style sensibility leaning towards classic tailoring in bold colours. A far and welcome cry from hair extensions, micro mini-skirts and cowboy boots. Katie is streets ahead in developing an eye for what works.

Her fashion revolution is mid-cycle and her rise as a style icon once complete may even overtake her pal Victoria Beckham. She's smart and savvy, with an interest in fashion and that's all you need when building a super wardrobe and fashion following.

Katie's recognition however is as Mrs Tom Cruise and an in-training style icon. Her career credibility remains dwarfed. This, of course, is acceptable for a wife of a media mogul, however from interviews it is clear Katie wants more. She desires an established movie career.

Katie can't afford further scandal in her personal life. Her marriage and its nuances are riddled with negative media. To garner career acknowledgement and to loosen the perceived Cruise noose, Katie should seek out a role which carries an edge, a story which belies her role as Mrs Cruise.

A Charlize-Monster moment – a disturbing role, offering Katie the scope of portraying a provocative, damaged character Indie cult or mega blockbuster, we would like to see Tom and Katie united on the carpet in a career defying moment.

This type of role would provide Katie the opportunity to move from a subtitle into a headline on a film roll – a poignant moment when style meets substance and creates a woman of worth.

Delicious!

Click here to view the gallery of Katie's transition.

Bronwen Saayman is Women24's Image Consultant. Click here to ask her a question.