Saturday, May 2, 2026

Angels Wardrobe 1

screen caps of Shelley
from the Charlie's Angels episode
"Love Boat Angels"

1979 was a new era for the hit TV series Charlie's Angels. Supermodel Shelley Hack joined Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd to form Charlie's glamorous new Angel team. Nolan Miller, the wardrobe designer of the series, said, "I begged Aaron to hire Shelley. There was something about her I really liked; I was impressed with her Charlie perfume commercials and how she could create a look just by turning her collar up and putting her hands in her pockets." The wardrobe budget was increased to $20,000 per episode; and, according to People magazine, each Angel was to go through eight costume changes per episode (but it was more like three to five, with Farrah making the most - at eight changes - in "Fallen Angel").  But for the two-hour season premiere, the episode "Love Boat Angels," the Angels went through 10 outfit changes each. Shelley's outfits were tailor-made to highlight her physical assets as well as her classy character. She wore a woman's skirt suit and a woman's pants suit and a summer dress-and-blazar combo. In one scene, she wore an an ice blue silk satin evening gown by Nolan Miller (inspired by the Edith Head ice blue French silk satin gown worn by Grace Kelly to the 1955 Oscars), which she also wore for promo pics for that season. She wore a couple of one-piece bathing suits as well as a number of short Bermuda shorts, all of which highlighted her long Barbie doll legs. She also wore a tube top which highlighted her creamy, sexy shoulders. "Love Boat Angels" topped the Nielsen ratings when it was first aired in September 12, 1979 - and everyone concluded that Charlie's Angels was in for another great season.

screen caps of Shelley
from the Charlie's Angels episode
"Love Boat Angels"