Hot metal! Jennifer Aniston takes the plunge in a daring low-cut silver mini... as matronly Reese Witherspoon covers up in trouser suit

By Chris Johnson

Last updated at 4:14 PM on 18th October 2011

Jennifer Aniston is seven years wiser than Reese Witherspoon.

And that wisdom apparently paid off for the 42-year-old actress last night at the Elle Annual Women in Hollywood event, where she managed to outfox her fellow Thespian friend.

Aniston was streaks ahead as she stepped out to the Beverly Hills soiree in a daringly short, low-cut silver dress.

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Showing her best side: Jennifer Aniston stole the show last night as she stepped out to the Elle Women In Hollywood annual gala in an eye-catching short and low-cut silver dress

Getting cosy: The fellow Thespians posed together backstage at the event, where Aniston was honoured

As a result it was the Friends star who came off looking more youthful than 35-year-old Reese, who played it somewhat demure in a Navy blue trouser suit.
Jen, who is among the honourees at the 18th annual gala, posed for photographs with Reese - who played Rachel Green's sister Jill in two episodes of Friends 11 years ago - backstage.
The pair cosied up and put on their best smiles as they chatted amid a frenzy of flashbulbs.

How low can you go? Aniston's plunging neckline meant the actress went braless

How do you like my outfit: Reese and Jen chatted as they stood amid an army of flashbulbs

Playing it simple: Reese Witherspoon spiced up her trouser suit with a racy see-through lace top (left), while Michelle Pfeiffer rolled back the years in a low-cut dress

Viola Davis and Barbra Streisand were also among the stars at the event who received honours.

There were many other VIP guests on hand, who turned out to support the occasion dressed in their finest.

Naomi Watts looked stunning in a flesh-coloured knee-length dress while Nicole Richie wore a flowing black patterned asymmetrical number.

All dressed up: Naomi Watts looked stunning in a nude-coloured dress while Nicole Richie opted for an asymmetrical black patterned number

Classic in black: Katherine Heigl pulled out all the stops in a cleavage-baring LBD while Michelle Pfeiffer looked far younger than her 53-years

Classic in black: Katherine Heigl pulled out all the stops in a cleavage-baring LBD while Viola Davis looked chic in a silver number

Katherine Heigl proved she does still have it in her to look glamorous, and stepped out of her customary matronly attire in favour of a pretty LBD which put her amble cleavage on show.
Michelle Pfeiffer defied her age, with the 53-year-old looking breathtaking in a belted black dress with a plunging v-shaped neckline.
Other celebs who put their back into the style effort included Camila Alves, who wore a polka-dot blue number and Amber Heard, who was pretty in pink, teamed with a slick of blood-red lipstick.

Daring: Evan Rachel Wood whore a sheer dress which exposed her legs while Sean Penn's ex-wife Robin Wright looked a little more demure

Daring: Evan Rachel Wood wore a sheer dress which exposed her legs while Sean Penn's ex-wife Robin Wright looked a little more demure

Bringing the glamour: Model Camila Alves went for polka-dots, Amber Heard was pretty in pink while Chloe Moretz slipped into a short white ensemble

Bringing the glamour: Model Camila Alves went for polka-dots, Amber Heard was pretty in pink while Chloe Moretz slipped into a short white ensemble

Rubbing shoulders: Nicole Richie and Amber joined forces with the equally glamorous Jenna Dewan-Tatum

Freida Pinto looked immaculate in a white gown complete with a purple and green embellishment and matching-coloured shoes.
And British star Alice Eve was pretty as a picture in a floral white dress as she posed on the red carpet.
Not letting the side down, Ian Somerhalder, Stephen Dorff and Joel McHale all looked dapper in slick suits.

Be my date: Honouree Barbra Streisand was decked out in red velvet and attended with her husband actor James Brolin

Style comes first: Freida Pinto looked great in a long white dress with a splash of purple and green, while British star Alice Eve opted for a floral dress