One could argue that the truest sign of authentic personal style is carrying your signature looks through your lifetime. They'll need tweaking now and then, of course (no one wants to be stuck in their favourite decade, only to look dated in the future), but it's quite an impressive feat to know what you enjoy wearing your 20s and to still be leaning on the same trusted pieces or looks many years later.
Some celebrity names spring to mind: Diane Keaton (you simply must check out her latest looks on her Instagram page), Iris Apfel and Diana Ross are all wildly different from each other but share the same dedication to their own unique outlook on fashion. Another that perhaps beats them all for her unwavering aesthetic has to be superstar actress Jennifer Aniston.
Since she rose to fame in the '90s via Friends and one very influential haircut, certain items have remained in the celebrity's on- and off-duty wardrobe. How these items are worn together change with the trends (bootcut jeans replaced by skinny leathers, '90s mules swapped for sky-high two-strap stilettos), but the ideas remain the same. See how Jennifer Aniston's super-concise capsule wardrobe has been working hard for decades…
Black Dress: Then
Has anyone ever looked better in a little spaghetti-strapped mini than Jennifer in 1997.
It's the year 2000, Jen An's black-dress blueprint set in stone for the future. No matter the hemline or finish, each and every black dress must be fitted around the bodice.
Black Dress: Now
Fast forward to 2017 and this asymmetric leather number from Brandon Maxwell is yet another addition to Jennifer's now surely bulging LBD collection. Both the silhouette and the strappy heels give her staple combination a modern makeover.
A long black gown with so much detailing and a wonderful fit—any wonder this is a couture piece from Christian Lacroix? Aniston chose this and a clashing white clutch to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the AFIs in 2018.
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Jeans and Shirt: Then
In 1990, big shirts were big business. Tucked into the high-waisted jeans and worn with voluminous hair, this look is nothing if not of its time.
Five years on and in 1995, Jen's formula is still going strong, only this time she opts for a more formfitting top and a cute shoulder bag.
Jeans and Shirt: Now
In 2016 Jennifer's classic combination was still a reliable one, updated and made more grown-up with her choice of white shirt, bootcut jeans and the all-important Gucci belt.
Switching things up a little at the tail end of 2018, Jen opted for an all-black rock 'n' roll version of her jeans-and-shirt pairing.
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Maxi Coat: Then
You'll find that the addition of a maxi coat works with the aforementioned jeans-and-shirt and LBD looks Jennifer often relies upon. This one was from a premiere in 1998.
Ahh, the Brad years, when the starry couple mimicked each other's outfits. Black leather was all the rage in the late '90s and early noughties, so they both had matching Matrix coats.
Maxi Coat: Now
Jennifer's penchant for longline outerwear is still in play, and she's expanded upon the idea with this camel coat in 2017.
Back to The Matrix vibes and a black maxi coat worn with skinny leather trousers, biker boots and a simple knit in 2018.
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Boho Dress: Then
We've always held a suspicion that, deep down, Jennifer Aniston is something of a hippy. Her occasional dalliance outside of black dresses always includes something bohemian—a floaty, floral maxi dress like this from 2002.
Earlier on in the '90s, Jennifer was pictured in the dress style of the time: a floral slip.
Boho Dress: Now
On the rare occasion she's not in black, Jennifer still relies upon something more boho then trend-driven, like this timeless, decorative gown from Vivienne Westwood in 2016.
Although more modern in shape and print, this relaxed floral dress from Proenza Schouler speaks to the same concept. Add in stilettos and a Chanel bag and you have an ensemble for a daytime L.A. event.
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