Sunday, December 3, 2023

Coat of '74

a closeup of Shelley
from a spread for Vogue, Sep '74

When Shelley graduated from Smith College in 1970, she decided to become a model full-time. Represented by the top model management company, Ford Models Inc., she began her transition from teen model to top model (and eventually to Supermodel.) Her then boyfriend, photographer Steen Svensson, and make-up artist extraordinaire Rick Gillette came up with test shots of Shelley in the early '70s with the hope that the images could get her on the pages of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar - which eventually happened. She appeared on both the US and international editions of the magazines. According to Rick, "In the early 70’s before "Charlie", before "Charlie’s Angels", Shelley Hack was an ex-teen model looking for a more sophisticated look to get her into Vogue. I was creating a portfolio with the same goal in mind." By the late 1970s, Shelley was a certified Supermodel.

a pic of Shelley
from a spread for Vogue, Sep '74

Shelley appeared on the pages of Vogue's September 1974 issue. In the spread called "The New York Collections: The Undercoat Life All Around Town," she wore a fur-trimmed coat that looked so good, it could be worn on its own. The fur-collared wrap coat was in oatmeal tweed and had a notch-lapel type collar in silky fluffy fox fur. The Nat Kaplan coat was below the knee in length and had a self-tie belt. A printed blouse, dark hose and classic pumps finished her look. A textured scarf, a leather clutch bag, and leather gloves accessorized her look. And Shelley looked every inch the Supermodel she had finally become.