Alyssa Grabinski is a celebrity shopping writer for PEOPLE. She's an expert at finding affordable lookalikes for celebrity-worn styles seen on Oprah Winfrey, Katie Holmes, and Kate Middleton. She also rounds up can't-miss sales, the best weekend deals, and top-notch beauty buys celebrities are currently using.

Welcome to The Blueprint, where we break down the celebrity looks we want to wear right now and build them back up, piece by piece.

Sometimes I ask myself: How do celebrities do it? And by "it," I mean look so good on their off-duty days. But then there are days when celebrities like Katie Holmes make the answer obvious.

Over the weekend in New York City, the actress dressed up -- or, at least, so I thought -- to stroll through the streets. At first, all I saw was her long trench coat and its beautiful rustic color that somehow seamlessly matched the backdrop of all the fall tones around her.

As I got another look, I saw that underneath this gem of a coat were a few basics: a pair of black leggings and what looked like a white T-shirt. She also accessorized with a large tote bag (a repeat bag style of hers) and some booties, both in seasonal colors. In other words, the coat was the standout piece that made the entire look what it was.

My wardrobe is probably 80 percent basics and 20 percent statement pieces; and a bunch of those are long, dramatic toppers. What's cool about coats like this one is that it doesn't matter what I wear underneath. In fact, it's for that reason that they're the best for days when I can't put an outfit together.

For example, this Cider coat can easily elevate an otherwise casual look. I also think it's important to choose one that's full-length for the fall or winter. Jennifer Lopez has worn practically the same style equation before, too.

Though I'm more of a fan of loose pants, I recognize that even in my wardrobe, there's a time and place for leggings. They must, however, be seamless or else they look sporty and like I'm heading to a workout class.

I've yet to try Spanx leggings, but I know Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Garner have worn pairs, (albeit other ones) from the brand. I've tried a few other pieces from the brand, and the quality was unarguable.

Tall boots are skyrocketing in popularity, but when I need to head out somewhere quickly, I don't want to sit down to get them situated. That's why shorter boots are more convenient -- the only thing better may be slip-on shoes like this pair that comes in sizes 5 to 11. They would be good for the daytime rush, while something with a little heel would be edgier for nighttime.

I'm having a hard time deciding between this faux leather tote bag that's "very soft and supple," per one shopper, and this Longchamp Le Pliage Tote -- Holmes' looks more like the former, and it's only $31. Alternatively, I already own two Longchamp bags, so I personally can speak to their durability and practicality, which are both 10 out of 10.

Keep scrolling to shop more long coats, leggings, ankle boots, and tote bags inspired by Katie Holmes now.