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 bias plaid tent coat which was zipped over a camel sweater and wool melton pants ensemble - all pieces were by Lewiston. Matching hose, footwear and a hat by Adolfo Realites finished her look. Shelley looked in step with the times.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Fashions of the Times A
Charlie Girl Angel
Shelley joined the cast of Charlie's Angels during it's 4th season and was stunned and delighted with the opportunity she got. It was previously reported that Barbara Bach got the part and that was all over the entertainment news at the time. David Doyle, who played John Bosley in the series, even began researching about Ms. Bach, thinking she would be his new co-star. But the mistake was quickly corrected and it was announced that Shelley got the part. "THE Charlie Girl is Charlie's newest Angel" became the latest entertainment headline and Shelley's casting was announced in the evening news. Everyone was excited to see the Supermodel work for Charles Townsend and get the bad guys.
THE Charlie Perfume Girl
After finishing her schooling, Shelley signed on full-time at her modeling agency, Ford Models Inc., and became one of the top models in the United States, booking countless fashion spreads, print and TV ads as well as magazine covers including Glamour, Mademoiselle and Vogue. In 1976, she jumped to Supermodel status via a Revlon commercial for Charlie Perfume. She was one of first models able to negotiate previously unheard of, lucrative and exclusive deals with a giant cosmetics company. Shelley's image catapulted the Charlie brand to iconic status. Everybody in the world wanted to be a Charlie Girl because of Shelley. Her portrayal of the confident, fabulous and independent woman who was unapologetic and happy about that fact captured the imagination of many worldwide and made Charlie one of the best-selling brands in history.
Diagnosis Murder Guesting 1
Bobbie Knits Collection
Busy Actress
Shelley was already a Supermodel when she got her big break as Tiffany Welles in Charlie's Angels in 1979. But after her Angels stint, she was determined to learn her craft and give this acting opportunity a try. In the early 1980s, she wowed her critics and earned positive reviews for her stage work in Jack Heifner's Vanities, Elizabeth Diggs' Close Ties and the classic play Born Yesterday. She also got the same from her theatrical work in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy and the TV movies Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer with George Segal and Found Money with Dick Van Dyke and Sid Caesar. By the end of 1983, she was back to series TV with Cutter to Houston alongside Jim Metzler and Alec Baldwin.
Maternity Separates
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Gloria Sachs Separates
Shelley appeared in many ad during her Supermodel days. She appeared in several ads for Jacobson's which was a regional department store chain that focused on high-end apparel, fine jewelry and home furnishings. It was known for personalized fashion shows as well as its posh atmosphere. Shelley modeled "The Young Wools" by Gloria Sachs for Jacobson's in 1975. Gloria Sachs was a fashion designer known for stylish and comfortable clothes for the working woman. She designed separates that could be easily mixed and matched - perfect for the on-the-go lifestyle of women in the workforce. And Shelley looked sensational in them.
All You'll Hear is Laughter
Shelley joined the cast of Charlie's Angels during it's 4th season and got along well with her co-stars Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd. "Shelley seemed like a doll and we were going to have a lot of fun working together," Cheryl Ladd said at the time. "She was sort of like the debutante" Jaclyn Smith said about the highly-charged, energetic and intellectual East Coast girl. "Jackie, Cheryl and I hit it off immediately." Shelley said, "Put your ear to the wall, all you'll hear is laughter."
Halston 1972
Shelley was among the models who appeared in a spread for Vogue wearing Halston's latest creations for 1972. Vogue ran pictures of Halston in their December 1972 issue with models wearing his latest designs. Aside from Shelley, the other models were Anjelica Huston, Pola (Paula Klimak), Lynn Woodruff, Chris Royer, Emmanuelle, Apollonia Van Ravenstein, Denise Hopkins, Karen Bjornson and Pat Cleveland. "He (Halston) didn't want a bunch of blank-faced models," Anjelica Huston said, "He wanted girls with personality. It was about attitude. It was about the way you walked. Character." And that's what all of his models had.
Medical Recruits
Shelley's second foray into series TV was Cutter to Houston. It was about three young doctors who were recruited to run a small hospital in the fictional rural town of Cutter, Texas. When they encountered problems their facility couldn't handle, they got in touch with a big city hospital in Houston, Texas, via computer and helicopter - hence, the title. Jim Metzler and Alec Baldwin played the other two doctors. Jim played idealistic GP Dr. Andy Fenton, who grew up in Cutter and was glad to be home. Alec played internist/ladies man Dr. Hal Wexler, who was 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.
Quintessential
Shelley was THE quintessential Charlie Girl and was Revlon Charlie's image model from 1976 to 1982. Charlie was one of the first mega-successful lifestyle brands in the world. The phenomenal success of the brand was due in part to Shelley's unforgettable image. Although there were a slew of other Charlie models before her, it was Shelley's image that catapulted the brand to iconic status. Everybody in the world wanted to be a Charlie Girl because of Shelley. Her portrayal of the confident, fabulous and independent woman who was unapologetic and happy about that fact captured the imagination of many worldwide and made Charlie one of the best-selling brands in history.
Star Columnist
Shelley's third foray into series TV was Jack and Mike. It was about a married yuppie couple living in Chicago, trying to find time for each other in their busy schedules. Shelley played Jackie Shea, a star columnist at The Mirror, a widely-circulated Chicago paper. Her column was awaited by everyone every week. Her husband was Mike Brennan (played by Tom Mason), a successful restaurateur. The other cast members were: Nora Adler (Jacqueline Brookes), Jackie’s editor; Anthony Kubecek (Kevin Dunn), Jackie's assistant; Carol (Holly Fulger), the head waitress at Mike's restaurant, Brennan's Grill; and Rick Scotti (Vincent Baggetta), an attorney who appeared occasionally. The series, created by Sara Davidson, was filmed on location in Chicago, Illinois.
Polka Dots
Shelley appeared in many catalog spreads throughout her modeling career. She appeared in many catalogs for Sears. In the Sears Spring Through Summer 1967 catalog, she appeared in the spread which featured fashions for the pregnant woman. She wore the Polka Dots dress, a black dress with crisp white polka dots, white ribbon band and bow accents and a button-trimmed ribbon highlight down the front of the dress. A matching headband finished her look. And of course, Shelley looked sensational.
Friday, May 14, 2021
Busy Ford Model
Shelley was a very busy model in the 1970s. She appeared on many covers and spreads throughout the decade. She was one of the busiest models represented by Ford Models Inc. Eileen Ford, the FMI matriarch, said of Shelley, "She is a very good model and an intelligent, well-educated lady." Ford added, "Modeling was just a vehicle she used to get educated. It was never a thing where she wanted to be the best model in the world. She simply became one of them despite herself."
Comedy Album
Top Dividend
Instructional Video
Makes You A Star
Shelley knew very well that "Charlie Makes You A Star" because Charlie by Revlon made her a star, a superstar model, a Supermodel. And all over the world, her fabulous image, her effervescent smile and her long-legged stride was recognized and emulated. From the US to Europe, from Africa to Asia, Shelley was known as THE Charlie Girl and was celebrated for her independence and utter fabulousness. Shelley's "You're The Star" Charlie ads appeared in Sweden in 1980. The ad promoted the latest Charlie cosmetics and Charlie perfume discounts. The text reads as follows:
1983 TV Movie
In 1983, Shelley appeared in her second TV movie Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer. She played opposite George Segal, the police officer in charge of the investigation of the murder of her friend. Her character was Logan Gay, a school teacher who eventually become Segal's love interest. The movie was based on fact. It's about the investigation on the brutal murder of a young school teacher during the Christmas season in New York in the '70s. Logan was the co-teacher and close friend of the victim. John Grafton, played by George Segal, was the detective who solved the case.
Smocked Dress
Friday, May 7, 2021
Pullover to Crochet
Another Try
By 1986, Shelley, one of the alums of Charlie's Angels, was having a hard time shaking off the image she acquired during that show's airing. Many doubted the former Angels' acting abilities and they were all branded as flash-in-the-pans. But each of them slowly gained respect from their critics and detractors; so much so that each of them were given chances to shine acting-wise throughout the 1980s, beyond their tenure as Charlie's cherubs. And all of them were successful in their own way. That year, Shelley starred in her 3rd TV series Jack and Mike. She played Jackie Shea, a prominent Chicago journalist married to Mike Brennan, a successful restaurateur. The series had respectable ratings and was expected to last longer than it did.