Fashions of the Times B

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

for Fashions of the Times, Aug 1972

In 1972, Shelley appeared in a spread for Fashions of the Times, a magazine that came with The New York Times which featured the latest in city fashion. She appeared in a spread called "Wear Sportswear. Be In Step With Today." and wore several looks that were the latest in autumn 1972 daywear. The outfits she wore could be found in retail stores around New York. In one pic, she wore a herringbone worsted wool suit by Ralph Lauren. With it, she wore a silk shirt with an ascot also by Ralph Lauren. A silvery necklace by Cadoro and matching footwear finished her look. Shelley looked chic, smart and in step with the times.

Shelley with a male model from a spread

for Fashions of the Times, Aug 1972

Gossip Tidbit

Shelley in a paparazzi pic from 1979

Shelley joined the cast of Charlie's Angels in 1979 and was quickly thrust into the Hollywood limelight. Of course, tongues immediately began wagging about Charlie's newest Angel. She was talked about in gossip columns, tabloids and entertainment shows. She wasn't getting along with her co-Angels, she wasn't pretty enough or sexy enough, she was breaking up with her boyfriend, she was so many things... She couldn't believe the spotlight she was suddenly in. When Angels filmed in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Shelley said, "When I got off the plane, there were maybe eight million paparazzi. I looked around for Sophia Loren. It was for me. I couldn't believe it."

a tidbit about Shelley from 1979

Many magazine and tabloid reporters, as well as and paparazzi/photographers, rushed to her. Many things (true and untrue) were written about her. "Yesterday, I was a schnook, and today I can't get across the street" is how Shelley described her sudden rise to Hollywood megastardom. "It has been quite a whirl," she said. Her casting was even mentioned in the evening news - it was a huge deal. "I couldn't believe it. What was I doing in the evening news," she exclaimed at the time. "I had press people crawling in my windows," she told E! in 2002. 

 

gossip about Shelley and other stars 

from Gossip 1979

Fashionable Nurse

a closeup of Shelley from an ad for Budget uniforms, 1975

Shelley appeared in both the ads and the catalogs of the Budget Uniform Center, a company that specialized in uniforms for professional women. In 1975, she appeared in an ad for Budget that had the tagline "If this was a dress... ...it could cost twice as much." In the ad, Shelley donned a nurse's uniform  that could be mistaken for a fashionable day dress anytime. Shelley made one fashionable nurse.

Shelley in an ad for Budget uniforms, 1975

Diagnosis Murder Guesting 2

Diagnosis Murder Season 5 Part 1 DVD set, 

Diagnosis Murder Season 5 DVD set, 

Diagnosis Murder The Complete Collection, 

released in 2013, 2013 and 2016 respectively

Shelley guest-starred in the Dick Van Dyke TV series Diagnosis Murder in 1997. Diagnosis Murder was a TV series that aired from 1993 to 2001 and starred TV legend Dick Van Dyke. He played Dr. Mark Sloan, a former US Army doctor who served in a MASH unit and consequently became a renowned physician who consults with the local police as his son, Steve (played by Barry Van Dyke) is a homicide detective. Dr. Sloan's fellow doctors at Community General Hospital help him out as well. The series was a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman and was initially three TV movies before becoming a regular TV series.

screen captures of Shelley

from the Diagnosis Murder episode "Looks Can Kill" 1997

Shelley appeared in the season 5 episode "Looks Can Kill" playing celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Elaine Denell. Dr. Denell's clinic was a profit-driven entity that specialized in quick surgical procedures with no questions asked. When a patient of the clinic suddenly dies at Community General Hospital, Dr. Sloan takes a closer look at Dr. Denell's practice and investigates for possible malpractice. Shelley's performance in the episode was stellar. She had become well-seasoned and it showed. The part fit her perfectly and she knew how to handle her character. Plus, her rapport with Dick Van Dyke (whom she starred with in the 1983 TV movie Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer) was very evident. Jill Whelan and Anthony Michael Hall appeared in the episode as well. If you can get it, watch it!

more screen captures of Shelley

from the Diagnosis Murder episode "Looks Can Kill" 1997

Fabulous Charlie Triangle

Shelley in a promo pic for Charlie perfume, 1976

Shelley was THE quintessential Charlie Girl and appeared in many, many ads for the brand. In 1976, she appeared in a newspaper ad for Charlie that offered "The Charlie Triangle" as a dividend. It was a promo that offered customers a chance to purchase the Charlie Triangle, a silver pendant and chain necklace, for only $2.99 for any purchase of $4.00 or more of any Revlon product. Shelley modeled the chain and pendant set, of course, and made it look like a fabulous and prized possession.

Shelley in a newspaper ad for Charlie perfume, 1976

Thrill-Seeker

Shelley in a promo pic for Kicks, 1985

Shelley starred in the TV movie Kicks in 1985. The movie tackled a somewhat unusual subject. It was about Maggie Pierson, a thrill-seeking university professor who liked living life on the edge, who got a big kick out of thrill-seeking. She meets her match in another thrill-seeker, a mysterious wealthy businessman named Martin Cheevers (soap star Anthony Geary). The pair gets into one thrill after another until the thrills begin to take a dark and dangerous turn. How far is Maggie willing to go to with this guy? The film is well-paced and the twist in the end is a surprise. Plus, Tom Mason appears in it as Maggie's boyfriend (Notice how much chemistry they have. No wonder they ended up as co-stars in Jack and Mike a year later.) If you can get this one, watch it.

a TV guide ad for Kicks, 1985

Comfortable, Contemporary 1978

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

for Sears 1978 Spring Summer catalog

Shelley did a lot of modeling during her tenure as a full-time Supermodel in the 1970s. She was one of the busiest models at Ford Models, Inc, the agency that represented her. She did a lot of magazine layouts, ads and commercials as well. And like her contemporaries, she did a lot of catalog work too. She appeared in many spreads throughout the Sears 1978 Spring Summer catalog. She modeled the various outfits and separates available at Sears for women to look chic for that summer. Tops, pants, slacks, dresses - for day or evening - Shelley showed readers how to wear them and look great.

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

for Sears 1978 Spring Summer catalog

In the spread called "Comfortable Contemporary Casuals," she wore two versions of the Peasant Top and striped Pull-On Pants ensemble. The Peasant Top was a pullover-style top that had a drawstring neckline, raglan sleeves with buttoned cuffs and a square bottom. The Pull-On Style Pants was lightly textured with seersucker-look stripes, had an elasticized waist and straight legs. In one version, she wore them with a summery cap, and a pair of tie-belts. With another, she wore them with hoops earrings and a bangle bracelet. She finished both looks with cross-strapped wooden clogs. And Shelley looked summer-ready and sensational.

Shelley in a spread for Sears 1978 Spring Summer catalog