Tunic, Skirt and Pants

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

on Simplicity School Catalog Fall/Winter 1971

Shelley appeared on many Simplicity School Catalogs issues in the 1970s. The catalog featured many of Simplicity's latest fashion patterns. In one spread on their fall/winter 1971 issue, Shelley wore pattern no. 9470, a tunic, skirt and pants set. The tunic, which could be made with a tie belt or an elastic waist, could be worn with the pants or the skirt in the set. Shelley the modeled the pants ensemble and looked ready to take on the city.

Shelley in a spread for Simplicity School Catalog Fall/Winter 1971

Mags to Movies

Shelley, with Laren Hutton and Susan Blakely,

in a TV Guide ad for Entertainment Tonight, 1983

Shelley is one of those successful models who've transitioned to acting. Many other big models have done so prior to her, like Lauren Bacall and Ali MacGraw - as well as Lauren Hutton and Susan Blakely, who, along with Shelley, were the subject of Entertainment Tonight's "Magazine to Movies" special in 1983. The three women were the latest batch of big time models to try their luck in showbiz.

a closeup of Shelley from the 1983 ET ad

Bowed-Band Dress

Shelley in a spread from the 1960s

on the Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalog book, 1998

Shelley appeared in many Sears catalog spreads during her tenure as Supermodel. In the 1960s, she appeared in the catalog's Junior Bazaar spread that featured knee-length dresses (which was the more desirable length at the time) for fashionable young ladies to wear on evening events. She wore the Bowed-Band dress, a round-neck sleeveless evening shift dress adorned with a matching bow at the waist. Matching low-heeled evening pumps - a must for every proper young lady - completed her look. Earrings and a clutch finished her look. And with her hair fashionably worn up, Shelley looked every inch a proper young lady of the 1960s.

closeups of Shelley from the 1967 Sears spread

Cutter to Houston Pilot 18

screen captures from the Cutter to Houston pilot episode, 1983

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 and aspires to be a heart surgeon in Houston.

more screen captures from the Cutter to Houston pilot episode, 1983

To continue, Beth and Andy prepares Ginny Bickum for a much needed emergency operation. She is unconscious and they're afraid her state might put both her and her baby in danger. They decide to perform an emergency C-section. As they get Ginny ready, her husband Frank arrives at the hospital in a very violent mood. He doesn't trust Beth and is worried she might do something similar to what she did to him while Ginny is on the operation table. Hal arrives at the hospital and before he could calm Frank down is surprised by what happens next. Frank pulls a gun at him.

In Rhyme

Shelley in an ad for Main Street, 1977

Shelley modeled extensively during the 1970s. When she was a teenager in the '60s, she modeled part-time, during her summer vacations. But when she finished school, she signed on full-time at Ford Models Inc, the modeling agency that represented her, and went on to become one of the highest-paid Supermodels in the world. In 1977, she modeled a Poet's Shirt by Main Street which was 100% cotton and came in saffron-gold, teal, berry red, rust and French blue. And Shelley looked Supermodel sensational in it.

a closeup of Shelley from the 1977 ad

Charlie's 5th Cherub

Shelley with fellow Charlie's Angels Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd

on the cover of the Greek mag RadioProgram, 1980

Shelley became Charlie's 5th cherub in 1979. She was chosen among the many girl who auditioned because the way her looked blended perfectly with incumbent cherubs Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd. She passed a screen test and a personality test and was recommended by both Jaclyn and Cheryl for the part (they felt really comfortable with her). She had a short acting resume but had enough experience to handle the Charlie's Angels material - it wasn't Shakespeare after all.

Shelley in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 1979

Shelley was already an icon-in-the-making herself when she joined the Charlies Angels cast. She was THE Charlie Girl and was as familiar as a can of Coca Cola to the entire world. Her impact as the Revlon model and spokesperson was felt throughout the entire globe. The time of the independent, confident and unapologetic woman had come; and Shelley represented all these to women everywhere. Her becoming a Charlie's Angel was perfect as well. The TV series empowered women just as her Revlon commercials did.

Less is More Under the Sun

Shelley in a spread for Seventeen magazine, 1971

Shelley appeared in many issues of Seventeen magazine from the 1960s to the 1970s. In 1971, she appeared in their June issue. In a spread called "Less is More When You're Under the Sun," she wore the latest fashion piece of the season, hotpants. The mag recommended that girls "liberate their legs and let the sun shine in," add a cool top and feel the freedom of the latest summer fashions.

a closeup of Shelley from the 1971 spread

Shelley wore a knitted striped tank top and hotpants set. The top was striped until just below the chest before it becomes a solid color. The hotpants were of similar stripes as the top but with a wavy difference. The set was by Duo by Granny Takes a Knit. Matching knitted bracelets and heart-shaped hair clips finished her look.

another closeup of Shelley from the 1970 spread

Shelley also wore a side-tied crop top with ruffled cap sleeves over a pair of matching hotpants with ruffled legs. The mismatched yet somehow matching striped prints made the outfit a summer standout. It was by Betsey Johnson for Alley Cat. Chokers by Isis completed her look. Fun braided hair finished her look. Shelley, of course, looked fab and ready to hit the beach in her outfits.