Shelley began modeling in late 1964. Shelley was discovered by A&P supermarket heir and publisher Huntington Hartford at a debutante ball when she was just 14 years old. It was her first time to be invited to one and her mother instructed Shelley, "If any older men bother you, go powder your nose." And she kept powdering her nose all night long, because "A guy kept bothering me," Shelley said, "He kept coming up to ask, 'Have you ever thought of being a model?'" After careful consideration, and with the help of her mother (a former model herself), she finally decided it was a better summer job than waitressing. They both went to New York to see Eileen Ford (a friend of her mother's) for representation; and the rest is history.
Shelley appeared on many issues of Seventeen magazine from 1964 to the 1970s. In 1970, she appeared in the magazine's August issue, in several spreads. In a spread called "The Lure of Velour," which featured soft and plushy dresses in knitted velour, she wore a dress that was sure to be a hit to those 1970s sweater girls. Shelley wore the "Peplum Flare," a jacket and skirt ensemble in plushy deep purple. The V-neck long-sleeved jacket had a snug waist with contrasting buttons lined up in front. The skirt was below-the-knee in length. It was by Ruth Manchester. She finished her look with a matching hose by Round-the-Clock and strap on high-rise footwear with unique heels by Patinos. She accessorized her look with a velvet dog collar by Flower Modes. With her hair up, Shelley was alluring.
