Saturday, October 17, 2026

Angels Wardrobe 24 B

screen caps of Shelley
from the Charlie's Angels episode
"One Love... Two Angels Part 2"

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").

screen caps of Shelley
from the Charlie's Angels episode
"One Love... Two Angels Part 2"

For the episode "One Love... Two Angels Part 2," Shelley went through three outfit changes. For her first scene, she wore a light purple sweater top over a pair of pleated khaki slacks. She finished her look with a horizontally-striped tan and khaki belt and a pair of beige open-toe high-heeled sandals. She accessorized her look with a beige shoulder bag. She next wore an all-white ensemble made up of a white V-neck sweater top over a pair of white jeans. She finished her look with a pair of beige-colored boots and accessorized it with a gold necklace. She wore the same ensemble with a blue hard hat for the construction site scene. She next wore an all-red ensemble made up of a red blazer-style blouse over a pair of red slacks. A gold chain belt finished her look. A pair of gold earrings and a gold necklace accessorized her look.

screen caps of Shelley
from the Charlie's Angels episode
"One Love... Two Angels Part 2"

Stayed a Hit - TV's Top 20 Shows

Shelley in a promo pic
for Charlie's Angels, 1979

Shelley told TV Tales: Charlie's Angels in 2002, "I never expected to be there more than a year and I wasn't." She added, "I did my year and I moved on. That was just fine. That was plenty for me." In 1979, for its 4th season, Shelley joined the cast of Charlie’s Angels alongside Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd - as Kate Jackson's fill-in. Shelley signed a one-year contract with the show which had a three-year option; and she opted to leave Charlie's Angels and move on to other things after a year. It seems Shelley felt so much pressure when she became the new Angel; it seemed everything was riding on her shoulders. In the Nielsen ratings, Charlie's Angels had fallen from #4 over-all in season 2 to #12 over-all in season 3. In season 4, Shelley was brought in with the hopes of bringing the series back into TV's top 10 shows.

a short writeup about Shelley
from 1980

But Shelley was given little to do or say early in the 4th season, a critical point because her character was being introduced. "It was an awkward introduction. I was hardly in the first couple of shows. I don't know why that is," Shelley told TV Tales: Charlie's Angels. In 2021, Cheryl Ladd told Charlie’s Angels historian and author Mike Pingel, "I just felt like they didn't help her (Shelley), kind of, really create something more solid for her character. It wasn't her fault. She just, kind of, got words." Was Shelley expected to boost the show's ratings by her "mere presence alone"? Additionally, it seems she got the short end of the stick. In 2026, Kate Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter, "I met her and we talked about it. She said it felt personal. There'd be some event and the three of them were invited, but they sat her behind a big concrete post or something. She's really smart and funny. There was no reason to treat her that badly." Shelley told People magazine after she left the series in 1980, "I feel like I've been sunbathing on Three Mile Island." Nevertheless, Charlie's Angels finished at #18 (tied with CHiPs) over-all in the Nielsen ratings that year - it was a hit TV series and it stayed a hit. Charlie's Angels was one of the TV's top 20 shows for four seasons, from 1976 to 1980. (For more, check out: She Did Her Best)

Sakowitz 1975 2

a closeup of Shelley
from a pic that appeared in a spread
on Sakowitz Lifestyle catalog,
July 1975

Shelley appeared on many spreads for many catalogs from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. Mail-order catalogs were at the height of its popularity at the time. They were big-book size publications that contained a list of general merchandise from, usually, a department store that were available for purchase and delivery straight to the homes of consumers. Everything from homeware to toys were featured in these catalogs... as well as garments and the latest fashion pieces. Many Supermodels - like Cheryl Tiegs, Beverly Johnson, Patti Hansen and Shelley Smith, just to name a few - appeared in the most popular catalogs of the era. Many models who eventually became actresses also appeared in these catalogs - like Veronica Hamel, Erin Grey, Kim Basinger and Pam Dawber.

Shelley in a spread
on Sakowitz Lifestyle catalog,
July 1975

Shelley appeared on the pages of Sakowitz Lifestyle catalog, on their July 1975 issue. Often compared to Neiman Marcus, Sakowitz was a chain of high-end department stores that operated until 1990. Sakowitz had a hand in making European fashion designers familiar to the American consumer... Andre' Courreges, Yves St. Laurent Rive Gauche, Zandra Rhoades, Givenchy and Erminegildo Zegna were some of designers they carried. Aside from apparel, Sakowitz had "home & lifestyle" and "ultimate gifts" among its high-end merchandise, all of which appeared on Sakowitz's catalog. In their July 1975 catalog, Shelley appeared on the apparel and accessories section. She wore the "Denimite!" look - a smashing look with prewashed denim. She wore a yellow cotton tank top over a pair of back-yoked denim jeans with wider belt loops. She topped it off with a yoked denim safari jacket with 4 pockets, pocketed sleeves and an adjustable D-ring around the waist. She finished her look with a two-toned leather belt and accessorized it with a yellow-orange scarf around her neck. And Shelley looked fabulous as always.

a pic of Shelley
that appeared in a spread
on Sakowitz Lifestyle catalog,
July 1975

A Great Body of Work

a paparazzi pic of Shelley, 1986

Immediately after leaving Charlie's Angels, Shelley jumped into theater-acting in 1981 via the play Vanities by Jack Heifner. In the following years, she ventured further and did Elizabeth Diggs' Close Ties, and later Born Yesterday. In 1989, she appeared in the John Krizanc play Tamara. She impressed her critics and detractors and received glowing reviews for her stage performances. In 1983, she appeared in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy and held her ground acting-wise opposite acting legend Robert De Niro. Later, she appeared in the 1986 children's fantasy feature Troll with Michael Moriarty (who would later star in Law & Order) and the 1987 cult classic The Stepfather (with Terry O'Quinn and Jill Schoelen) directed by Joseph Ruben. Joseph Ruben was impressed with Shelley's performance in The King of Comedy and had no second thoughts casting her in his film. She would receive great reviews for her acting in Ruben's film. She also played a blind character in the 1989 suspense thriller Blind Fear. On TV, she delivered great work opposite acting veterans George Segal (Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer, 1983), Dick Van Dyke and Sid Ceasar (Found Money, 1983). She worked with Paul Michael Glaser and Tony Danza (Single Bars, Single Women, 1984) with soap superstar Anthony Geary (Kicks, 1985) with Sela Ward and Brooke Adams (Bridesmaids, 1989). She also starred in two of her very own TV series - Cutter to Houston in 1983 with Alec Baldwin, and Jack and Mike from 1986-1987 with Tom Mason. All in all, she racked up a great body of work in the 1980s.

a paparazzi pic of Shelley, 1986

Satin and Suede

Shelley in artwork and promo pics
for Charlie perfume and cosmetics, 1978

Shelley first became famous in the 1970s as THE Charlie Girl. In 1976, she was hand-picked to represent the Revlon Charlie brand, as she was the embodiment the brand's ideal – gorgeous, sexy and young. Makeup artist Francis Rick Gillette recalls, "Shelley Hack was really the perfect girl for Charlie." In 1979, artworks of her appeared in a Charlie ad with the tagline "Revlon Colors It Spring: Step Out in Charlie's New Satin and Suede!" It was a promo for Charlie's brand new, soft, shiny and totally sexy makeup look - the Satin look for the eyes and lips - the Suede look for the face. "We call it fashion for the face" the ad said. It was also a promo for the very special Charlie's Coloring Box For Lips which contained Charlie's Soft-Line Automatic Lip Pencil, Charlie's Lipcolor Toner, Charlie's Extra-Extra Shine Lipstick, 3 of Charlie's Extra-Extra Shine Lip Glosses and a bottle of Charlie Concentrated Perfume Spray. It was available for just $6.00 for any $5.00 or more purchase from the Charlie or Chaz collections. And, of course, whether in pictures or in artwork, Charlie Girl Shelley was always Charlie-Girl gorgeous.

artworks of Shelley in a newspaper ad
for Charlie perfume and cosmetics, 1979

A Complete Departure

Shelley with Harry Anderson
and John Larroquette in a promo pic
for Night Court, 1984

In 1984, Shelley was cast in the nighttime sitcom Night Court for its second season (replacing Paula Kelly). She was cast to play public defender Christine Sullivan and the character was going to be romantically involved with Judge Harry Stone (played by Harry Anderson). Although best known at the time for being a dramatic actress, Shelley wasn't averse to doing comedy. "Comedy is a complete departure for me," she said, "but it's something I've always wanted to do and, besides, I love the show already just as a viewer." Shelley as excited about her new role. "You don't think I'll be the serious one who has to carry the doom and gloom?" she said.

a writeup about Shelley joining
the cast of Night Court in 1984

Cotton Knits and Double-Knits

a closeup of Shelley
from a spread for the Sears
Spring Through Summer 1968 catalog

Shelley appeared in many catalogs throughout her tenure as Supermodel. In 1968, she appeared on the pages of the Sears Spring Through Summer 1968 catalog. She appeared on a spread that featured "Great Ways to Put Yourself Together in Cotton Knits." It featured shift dresses and pullover-tops knitted in a crochet-look pattern, as well as a jacket, skirt and pants in smooth double-knit fabric. All could be mixed and matched as preferred.

Shelley in a spread for the Sears
Spring Through Summer 1968 catalog

Shelley wore the Shift dress. It was basically a T-shirt that was above-the-knee in length which was knit in an airy crochet-look pattern. It had a round neckline and short sleeves. It had a back zipper and came with a self-tie belt. It was available in chamois yellow and light aqua blue (Shelley wore the chamois yellow version.) Shelley's hair was blown straight with the top pulled back. And Shelley looked fabulous. Appearing in the spread with Shelley were Jennifer O'Neill and Cheryl Tiegs.

pics of Shelley featured
in a spread for the Sears
Spring Through Summer 1968 catalog