Budget Sewing '71

a closeup of Shelley from the cover

of Budget Sewing magazine, 1971

Sewing was a popular hobby or pastime for women and girls in the 1970s. Many magazines that catered to women and young ladies would usually contain instructions and patterns on how to create the latest outfits right in their very own homes. It would also include fabric recommendations and tips on how to handle the materials needed to create the fashion pieces. Simplicity, McCall's, Butterick and several more companies specialized in it and even came up with their own sewing magazines as well as patterns, booklets, leaflets. They also came up with many ads to promote them. And many of the top models and Supermodels of the era would wear them on those various printed promotionals that were regularly released - Cheryl Tiegs, Beverly Johnson, Patti Hansen and Shelley Smith, just to name a few. And, of course, so did Shelley Hack.

Shelley in a spread

for Budget Sewing magazine, 1971

Shelley appeared on the cover and pages of Budget Sewing's September 1971 issue. The issue contained instructions on how to make no-pattern quickie outfits, patterns that made you look thin, how to make a bikini as well as the 1st lesson in a complete home sewing course. Shelley appeared in the spread called "3-Way Hot Pants." It featured three versions of the most sought after fashion item for that summer season - Hot Pants. McCall's pattern number 2800 contained not one, not two, but three of the most popular hot pants styles. View A was a fly-front, mock-cuffed version with a belt loop waistband (which Shelley wore on the magazine's cover as well). View B was a sleek version with no waistband but with a fly-front. View C had cuffed legs and an elasticized waistband. And in all of them, Shelley looked fabulous as always.

Shelley on the cover

of Budget Sewing magazine, 1971

Cutter to Houston in 1983

Shelley in a promo pic from the 1980s

Shelley's second foray into series TV was Cutter to Houston. It was about three young doctors from the world-famous Texas Medical Center in Houston who were recruited to run a small hospital in the fictional rural town of Cutter, Texas. Jim Metzler and Alec Baldwin played the other two doctors. Jim played idealistic GP Dr. Andy Fenton, who grew up in Cutter and is glad to be home. Alec played internist/ladies man Dr. Hal Wexler, who is getting through his probation, having been relegated to Cutter for being a little too fast and free with his prescriptions. And Shelley played Dr. Beth Gilbert, an ambitious surgeon on temporary assignment in Cutter who aspired to be a heart surgeon in Houston.

a writeup about Cutter to Houston from 1983

So Natural Looking!

Shelley in a promo pic

for Clairol Nice 'n Easy, 1960s

Clairol is a division of the American company Wella, which specializes in haircare and hair-coloring products. The company was founded in 1931 and it brought to the US hair-coloring preparations from France. By the 1950s, it became popular in the States for its easy-to-use home hair-coloring kits. In the 1960s, Nice 'n Easy by Clairol advertised that their shampoo-in hair color as "so natural it invites closeups."

Shelley in a promo pic

for Clairol Nice 'n Easy, 1960s

Shelley appeared on the packaging/box (as well as print ads) for Nice 'n Easy by Clairol - from 1965 to the late '60s. Nice 'n Easy was a shampoo-in permanent two-step hair-coloring product which women could use at home. Step one was "Pour it on.. work it through." Step two was "Wait just minutes... rinse... shampoo!" The result was "Nice 'n Easy... so natural looking!" It was deemed so natural that "The closer he gets... the better you look!" Now who wouldn't want that?

Shelley in a promo pic

for Clairol Nice 'n Easy, 1960s

The Finishing Touch 12

screen captures from the film feature

The Finishing Touch, 1992

In 1992, Shelley starred in the big screen thriller The Finishing Touch. She played Hannah, a divorced detective who had to work on a case with her detective husband then fell with one of their suspects. Dynasty star Michael Nader played her ex-husband Sam Stone and future The Mummy star Arnold Vosloo played the suspect, artist Mikael Gant. This was one of Shelley's sexiest roles because it involved her in a love scene with Vosloo. But for the topless scenes, she used a body double.

screen captures from the film feature

The Finishing Touch, 1992

The film was about a divorced couple (Sam and Hannah Stone), both detectives, who had been assigned to the same case - find out who has been killing beautiful women in L.A., filming the deed and selling the footage as snuff films. Two suspects come up, a known criminal and a well-renowned artist (Mikael Gant). As Sam and Hannah further investigate the case, their former marital problems surface, clouding their judgement. And Gant would come between them. The film is available on VHS and was released under the title L.A. Ripper in Germany.

screen captures from the film feature

The Finishing Touch, 1992

The Sporting Life 1

Charlie Girl Shelley with Chaz Man Tom Selleck

in a 1980 Charlie and Chaz promo set

The Sporting Life Kit

Shelley was The Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982; and she appeared on many promotional pics for the Revlon brand. In 1980, Charlie and it's male perfume counterpart Chaz (also by Revlon) teamed up to promote the 1980 Winter Olympics which was held in Lake Placid, New York from Feb 13 to 24 of that year. Pics of Shelley together with the then current Chaz Man Tom Selleck were taken. The Sporting Life Kit containing both Revlon Charlie and Chaz products (the perfumes, Charlie Body Silk, Charlie Body Silk After Bath Tonic and Chaz Moisturizing After Shave Balm) became available. Shelley was already a superstar by then due to Charlie's Angels; but Tom Selleck would later become famous himself via his own TV series Magnum, P.I.

Charlie Girl Shelley with Chaz Man Tom Selleck

in a 1980 promo ad for the Charlie and Chaz set

The Sporting Life Kit

Hot New Actress

Shelley in an informal promo pic, 1978

Shelley was one of the hottest new actresses on the scene in 1978. By that time, she was already a highly-paid Supermodel and was recognized by everyone as The Charlie Girl. She was currently transitioning from modeling to acting. The year before, she had done a cameo in the Academy Award winning film Annie Hall where she appeared in a scene with no other than director/star Woody Allen himself. By then, she was also being considered by long-time James Bond films producer Cubby Broccoli to play Bond girl in the latest Bond installment Moonraker. And she was currently, a first time leading-lady in the film If Ever I See You Again. The hot and busy model-turned-actress was in L.A. doing the talk shows to promote the film.

Shelley in an informal promo pic, 1978

Matti of Lynne Design 1

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

on the Butterick catalog, 1979

Shelley appeared on many pattern catalogs, brochures and pattern packages during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1979, she appeared on Butterick catalog's November issue. In one spread, she wore Butterick pattern number 5676 - a two-piece semi-fitted dress. The top had a shaped collar, a front neckline slit, forward shoulder seams, full length sleeves with elasticized wrists and a self drawstring hemline. It also had attached self neckline ties. The skirt was flared and below-the knee in length and had an elasticized waistline. It was a design by Matti of Lynne, a popular label at the time. A watch and a necklace-and-earring set finished her look. And Shelley looked chic and fab.

Shelley in a spread for the Butterick catalog, 1979