Kaley Cuoco was inspired by the one and only Jennifer Aniston for her 2026 Critics Choice Awards outfit.
Cuoco, 40, opened up about the all-black Simkhai ensemble she wore at the awards show, which took place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday, January 4, revealing she channeled the Friends star’s 2002 style for her look. At the event, her outfit featured a tailored satin blazer and coordinating straight pants. Cuoco went topless underneath the jacket, opting for a black bralette.
The actress glammed up her look with a diamond chain necklace and dangling earrings. She opted for a full face of makeup including bronzed cheeks, long lashes, smokey eyeshadow and pink lips. Her brunette hair was parted down the middle and styled in a chic updo with her face-framing pieces hanging out.
On the red carpet, Cuoco held hands with husband Tom Pelphrey, who looked sharp in a black double-breasted blazer, matching pants and a mockneck sweater.
“🖤 @criticschoice with my favorite nominee @tommypelphrey 🖤 ,” Cuoco captioned the post, tagging her team, stylists Brad Goreski and Clarke Johnson, makeup artist Dendoll and hairstylist Marilee Albin.
Cuoco continued, “💫 I wanted to recreate and reimagine a favorite look I’ve always loved, worn by the iconic @jenniferaniston at the 02’ Golden Globes.” She added, “From the hair and makeup, to the suit and the jewels, we put our spin on it, but represented a look I always loved, worn by a woman who will always be iconic! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ thank you team for the sweet journey!”
Her fans supported Cuoco in the comments section. “Nailed it!! You look gorgeous,” one wrote. Another commented, “You look stunning and I love how you acknowledged the look ❤️.” A third wrote, “Twinning the best way possible!”
When Aniston, 56, wore the outfit at the 2002 Golden Globes, she rocked a fitted blazer complete with satin lapels and a one-button enclosure. She styled the look, which was cropped to her hips, with low-rise pants and pointed-toe heels, as well as a bedazzled clutch.
Aniston also wore a diamond necklace and earrings, as well as brown eyeshadow blended to her crease and long lashes. She completed her look with a messy — but chic — updo.
Aniston attended the awards with her now-ex Brad Pitt, who wore a black blazer, a white dress shirt and a shiny gold tie. He accessorized with brown shades and leather dress shoes.
Aniston and Pitt, 62, started dating in 1998. They got engaged one year later at a Sting concert and tied the knot in 2000. Pitt and Aniston later split and went through a public divorce in 2005 on the heels of his romance with Mr. & Mrs. Smith costar Angelina Jolie.
The pair tied the knot in 2014 and she filed for divorce in 2016, with a judge declaring them legally single in 2019. The former couple finalized their divorce in 2024.
Aniston, for her part, moved on with Justin Theroux, whom she was married to from 2015 until 2018. She’s now dating Jim Curtis. They have been romantically linked since mid 2025 and are still going strong.
