Even though Friends ended more than 30 years ago, its impact still reverberates in pop culture, from endless reruns to fan theories and fashion revivals. But perhaps one of the most personal and unexpected nods to the show’s enduring legacy comes from Jennifer Aniston herself. In a recent revelation that both delighted and touched longtime fans, Aniston admitted that she still wears a piece of clothing from the set—one that once belonged to her beloved character Rachel Green. Not a gown or statement jacket, but something far more personal and quietly meaningful: a pair of red square-toed loafers.

For a show that redefined 1990s and early 2000s style, Friends was as much a fashion inspiration as it was a comedy. And no character was more iconic in that regard than Rachel Green. As the fashionable runaway bride turned Bloomingdale’s buyer, Rachel was always ahead of the curve. From plaid skirts and crop tops to denim overalls and slip dresses, she gave fans a reason to tune in every week not just for the laughs, but for the looks.

Jennifer Aniston’s own fashion sensibility meshed seamlessly with Rachel’s, and according to her, that wasn’t a coincidence. In an interview with Bustle, she revealed that the cast had a lot of creative control over their wardrobes. “We picked all of our wardrobe,” Aniston said. “We’d go to the dressing room and they’d have our rack of clothes, and we would just go through them and put outfits together and just dress ourselves.”

It turns out, Aniston’s connection to Rachel wasn’t just professional—it was deeply personal. She admitted that the red loafers she still wears today weren’t just any shoes. They were part of Rachel’s closet, selected by Aniston herself during the show’s original run. The shoes, designed by Joan and David, had stood the test of time in both style and sentimentality. “I also have a wonderful pair of square-toed loafers from Joan and David that I took from my closet,” she said.

That small act of holding on to the loafers for decades speaks volumes. It’s not about memorabilia or fashion nostalgia. It’s about keeping a tangible link to a character who shaped not only Aniston’s career but also her personal journey. For ten years, Rachel Green wasn’t just a role—she was a cultural icon, a fashion trailblazer, and a lens through which millions of viewers watched Aniston grow and evolve. By keeping and continuing to wear those shoes, Aniston holds onto a quiet reminder of that era and the woman she became through it.

The connection goes beyond shoes. Aniston also reminisced about how collaborative the wardrobe process was. She and Courteney Cox (Monica Geller) were allowed to choose their own outfits each week, turning their characters into extensions of their own styles. “Except Phoebe,” Aniston added with a laugh. “Phoebe had to be very eccentric. So [costume designer] Debra McGuire would basically say, ‘This is what you’re wearing.’ But me and Court would pretty much dress ourselves.”

In the years since Friends, Rachel’s style has remained immortal. From the “Rachel” haircut—still requested in salons around the world—to her signature 90s silhouettes, her fashion influence continues to resonate. Trends come and go, but Rachel’s mix of playful, feminine, and confident looks remain timeless. And the fact that Jennifer Aniston herself still wears one of those signature pieces is proof that the line between Rachel and Jen was always more blurred than fans realized.

It’s these small, human details that keep the legacy of Friends alive. While the storylines and punchlines are seared into fans’ memories, it’s the personal connections behind the scenes—like a pair of red loafers worn quietly for over three decades—that add new depth to our understanding of the show’s lasting impact.

Jennifer Aniston has had an extraordinary career since Friends, with dramatic film roles, executive producing credits, and a return to prestige television with The Morning Show. Yet through it all, she has never fully let go of Rachel. The loafers are more than just a fashion statement—they are a piece of her past she chooses to keep walking with. And in that choice, fans find a beautiful reminder that some roles never truly leave you. They simply become part of who you are.