Angelina Jolie Shares Surprising Kids’ Rule on Her Fashion Choices

Angelina Jolie follows a simple but meaningful fashion guideline inspired by her children, emphasizing individuality above all else. Speaking at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival during the premiere of her new film Couture, Jolie explained that her household embraces personal authenticity when it comes to style.

She told E! News,

“My house is very, ‘To each their own,’”

and added,

“We’re very democratic. Everybody does their own thing.”

Jolie emphasized the importance of being true to oneself, saying,

“As long as you’re being you, we’re good,”

and,

“If you’re dressing up to try to impress somebody else or be like somebody else, we would probably just call you out. But if you’re you, be you!”

Contrasts Between Jolie’s Personal Style and Her Film Role

While Angelina champions individuality in her personal life, her character in the film Couture takes a more understated approach to fashion. Portraying an American filmmaker navigating Paris Fashion Week and a journey of self-discovery, Jolie described her character’s costume choices as minimalist, explaining,

“She wears the same big black jacket through the entire movie,”

and,

“I think I’m the only one not dressed in fashion.”

She elaborated that her character belongs to a world quite different from her own, saying,

“My character was slightly in a different world of horror movies, directing and life and death.”

Despite this, Jolie found a strong emotional connection to the film’s focus on female solidarity across diverse cultures and experiences.

Reflecting on the film’s themes, she shared,

“I think there’s a softness to this film—a connection to other women—that was different from something I’ve done before,”

adding,

“I haven’t done a film so female, and we also had wonderful men in this film, but it’s very female and very united with females from different parts of the world.”

Jolie highlighted shared human experiences within that diversity, noting,

“We all are very different and go through different experiences, but in the end, we also are more similar than we’re not.”

Angelina Jolie‘s Journey Back to Hollywood and Family Growth

Jolie’s involvement in Couture follows her gradual return to acting after a lengthy break taken for personal healing amid a challenging divorce. She revealed in a December Vanity Fair interview that she had experienced a particularly dark period, saying,

“I went very dark for reasons I’d rather not explain, but I didn’t have a lot of light and life within me.”

Since her comeback role in Pablo Larraín’s Maria, where Maddox and Pax served as production assistants, she’s been embracing a new phase of life. Jolie spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in August about her children’s growing independence, stating,

“They’re a bit older, getting more independent. I’m less needed and so able to go away for different periods of time. And they’re old enough to join me at work. It’s a new season in our lives. I’m very excited for them to be coming into their own more and more every day.”

Maddox: The Eldest Son’s Unique Journey

Maddox, born August 5, 2001, holds a special place in Jolie’s life. The actress connected deeply with him at an orphanage in Battambang, Cambodia, after filming Tomb Raider in 2001. Jolie recalled,

“I didn’t feel a connection with any of them,”

until she spotted Maddox, suspended in a box. The emotional moment led her to say, “I cried and cried.”

Maddox was adopted by Angelina when she was a single mother, and Brad Pitt later completed his adoption. Maddox’s passion for his mother’s humanitarian work translated into collaboration, serving as executive producer on Angelina’s 2017 film First They Killed My Father, where he aimed to

“help wherever I could,”

and praised Jolie as

“fun, funny, and easy to work with… She’s a wonder.”

After studying biochemistry at Yonsei University in South Korea—an academic choice Jolie expressed joy over—Maddox attended a White House state dinner in April 2023, underscoring his grown-up role within global circles alongside his mother.

Pax’s Early Life and Creative Interests

Pax was born November 29, 2003, and spent much of his early childhood in an orphanage near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a period marked by confinement and limited freedom. Angelina described those years, saying,

“He spent three-and-a-half years of his life in one place, in one room, in this one little iron bed with 20 other kids, and having no choice for himself to do things, having no freedom.”

Since joining Jolie’s family along with his siblings, he has embraced freedom, which she described as making him

“a little wild and crazy”

but also an affectionate and tough individual. His involvement in the family’s creative ventures includes voicing Yoo in the animated Kung Fu Panda 3 and working as a set photographer and assistant director on Jolie’s projects. Jolie noted the family-like atmosphere on film sets, stating,

“When a film crew is at its best, it feels like a big family, so it felt natural.”

Zahara’s Charitable Work and Academic Life

Zahara, born January 8, 2005, came to Angelina’s family through adoption from Ethiopia. Jolie often recounts how Maddox warmly welcomed Zahara at home, likening her to a “tiny pet” Maddox could adore and care for. Zahara has followed in her mother’s footsteps, engaging in charity work such as trips to Syrian refugee camps through the UNHCR and launching the Zahara Collection, a jewelry line collaborating with designer Robert Procop in 2019.

In 2022, Angelina accompanied Zahara to Spelman College in Atlanta, where the daughter started her studies amid emotional farewells. Jolie shared on Instagram her hope to hold back tears as she said goodbye to Zahara. The daughter, now a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, has joined her mother in Washington, D.C., advocating for legislation, including support for the Violence Against Women Act and the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2022.

Shiloh’s Early Steps into the Spotlight and Personal Choices

Shiloh arrived on May 27, 2006, in Namibia, joining the family after Jolie’s announcement earlier that year. Angelina describes her as

“so full of light and love”

and a spirited child who may cause a bit of mischief. Shiloh’s public appearances include red carpet events for films such as Unbroken, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and Dumbo, even wearing one of her mother’s Dior gowns. Angelina encouraged her children to borrow from her closet, saying,

“I’m like, ‘Oh my god, wear it and wear it better than me!”

Though Shiloh has shown interest in humanitarian causes, she has also explored performance arts, attending L.A.’s Millennium Dance Complex. On her 18th birthday in 2024, Shiloh legally removed “Pitt” from her last name, gaining independence in her identity by hiring her own lawyer to effect the change.

Knox’s Role in the Family and Creative Ventures

Knox, born July 12, 2008, alongside twin sister Vivienne in Nice, France, shares a close bond with the family. Jolie described their household as chaotic but joyful following their arrival at Château Miraval. Older siblings Shiloh and Zahara often helped with dressing and caring for the twins. Knox was named after Brad Pitt’s grandfather, reflecting family heritage, and is noted to share a physical and emotional resemblance to his father.

Like some of his siblings, Knox participated in the family’s creative projects, providing the voice of Ku Ku in Kung Fu Panda 3. Angelina acknowledged that although the twins were shy and not eager to become actors, she valued the experience for them, saying,

“They don’t really want to be actors, but I didn’t want them to miss the opportunity. They came in, and they had a lot of fun with it.”

Vivienne’s Thoughtful Support Behind the Scenes

Vivienne, Knox’s twin, is distinct in her quieter, more supportive role within creative efforts. Jolie compared her to her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, appreciating Vivienne’s dedication and thoughtfulness in theater. Jolie shared,

“She’s very thoughtful and serious about theatre and working hard to best understand how to contribute.”

Though Vivienne performed as young Aurora in 2014’s Maleficent, Jolie has noted her preference for behind-the-scenes involvement. Vivienne inspired Angelina to help bring Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Outsiders to Broadway, volunteering as an assistant on the production. Jolie remarked,

“She’ll correct me… She’s been a really tough assistant. She takes it very, very seriously.”

The Impact of Angelina Jolie’s Kids’ Fashion Philosophy

Angelina Jolie’s “to each their own” approach to style reflects a broader family ethos that values self-expression and authenticity. Encouraging her children to embrace their individuality—whether in fashion or life choices—highlights Jolie’s commitment to nurturing their unique identities.

This philosophy is mirrored in the diverse paths her six children have taken, ranging from academic pursuits and activism to creative work both in front of and behind the camera. As Angelina continues to balance her career with motherhood, her stance on fashion serves as a metaphor for empowering the next generation to be true to themselves, a message that resonates deeply in today’s culture.