a closeup of Shelley from an ad
for Dawn Yarns, 1972
Shelley was spotted by A&P supermarket heir Huntington Hartford at a debutante ball when she was just 14 years old and he urged her to try modeling. Shelley wasn't interested at first. But then she was taught never to close doors on opportunities that came her way; so she decided to take a peek. She ended up in model agent Eileen Ford's office in New York (her mother, a former model herself, and Mrs. Ford were acquainted); and the rest is history. She became one of the top Ford Supermodels of all time. But "It was never a thing where she was going to be the best model in the world; she simply became one of the best more or less in spite of herself," Eileen Ford said of Shelley.
Shelley in an ad for Dawn Yarns, 1972
In 1972, Shelley appeared in an ad for Dawn Hand Knitting Yarns with the tagline "Knit Your Own Thing With Dawn Yarns." Dawn Yarns were made by the American Thread Company, a foremost American manufacturer of threads and yarns. Their latest at the time were yarns made of polyester/acrylic fibers in bright colors that stayed bright, wash after wash. The yarns were easy to work with, stayed soft and kept their fit and shape. So whipping up a skirt, bikini overalls, knickers or any of the latest fashion items in the newest and brightest colors were finally possible with Dawn Hand Knitting Yarns. In the ad, Shelley wore a multicolored knitted skirt with a brightly-colored top and finished her outfit off with matching footwear, hose and accessories. She also wore a knitted vest over a shirt and knickers ensemble and finished it off with matching footwear, hose and accessories. In both outfits, Shelley looked chic and up-to-the-minute.
closeups of Shelley from an ad
for Dawn Yarns, 1972
