Saturday, August 17, 2024

So Glamorous

Shelley with Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith
in a glam promo pic for Charlie's Angels, 1979

Shelley was already a Supermodel when she was cast in the hit TV series Charlie's Angels in 1979, for its 4th season. She was known all over the world as THE fabulous Charlie Girl, Revlon's "it" girl. And the headline "THE Charlie Girl Becomes A Charlie's Angel" was just what the show needed to gain even more viewers and popularity. Everyone loved THE Charlie Girl and was excited to see her fight crime alongside incumbent Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd. For the 4th  season, the Angels were going to be the most fashionable crime-fighters on TV. "We're bringing back the glamour," executive producer Aaron Spelling proclaimed. "Suddenly, it's 'in' to be well-dressed. I'd love to see Charlie's Angels become a fashion plate show," Spelling told People magazine in 1979.

Shelley with Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith
in a glam promo pic for Charlie's Angels, 1979

The wardrobe budget was increased to $20,000 per episode and each Angel went through eight costume changes per episode. The fashions they wore for the season were the very latest. Also, for promotional purposes, five different pic sets were taken where the Angels were decked out in the latest fashion concoctions - [1] skin tight spandex disco pants, [2] jewel-colored satin robes, [3] chic casual day outfits, [4] sumptuous evening gowns by Nolan Miller, and [5] full-length fur coats (the most glamorous thing any woman could ever own at the time - PETA wasn't in existence yet). The promotional pics appeared on newspapers and magazines all over the world; and the Angels never looked so gorgeous and so glamorous.

Shelley with Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith
in a glam promo pic for Charlie's Angels, 1979