One of the original three “Charlie’s Angels” and the personality behind America’s most enduring Hollywood celebrity brand, Jaclyn Smith never misses a beat.
She is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the television series “Charlie’s Angels,” which aired from 1976 to 1981. She recently launched Fashion Jewelry and expanded the Jaclyn Smith Collection beyond ready-to-wear, fragrance, fabric and wig categories into a lifestyle brand. Her memoir, “I Once Knew A Guy Named Charlie,” will be published by Simon & Schuster in the fall. As a result, his schedule for public appearances on talk shows and at bookstores has become more active.
In April, the trio of TV’s Charlie’s Angels, Smith, Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd, who replaced the late Farrah Fawcett, were reunited and honored at PaleyFest, a festival commemorating the hit TV show and its cast. The Angels participated in a panel discussion, answered questions, and recounted episodes from the show, stating that they are all breast cancer survivors and support cancer research. The celebration followed the Paley Honors Gala held at New York’s The Plaza Hotel last May.
When “Charlie’s Angels” debuted on TV, “We were just three girls looking for an audience. Who would have ever dreamed that we would have this many fans?” Smith said in an exclusive interview with WWD. “‘Charlie’s Angels’ was a training ground. It opened a lot of doors and great business for me. So to be here 50 years later, it feels great.”
The original “Charlie’s Angels”: Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith.
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Smith also played the lead role in the TV movie Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, starred in the 1988 miniseries The Bourne Identity, and appeared in films such as Goodbye Columbus, Florence Nightingale, and The Wrath of Angels. She also had a cameo in the movie “Charlie’s Angels” and has appeared on the cover of hundreds of magazines, including Harper’s Bazaar and People & Time, once with Angel and once alone while pregnant with her son for an article about baby boomers.
“My favorite cover of all time was Richard Avedon’s ‘The American Look’ Vogue.” [in 1979]. He didn’t overshoot. He knew exactly what he wanted and we had truffle pasta for lunch. ”
Jaclyn Smith appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1979.
This month, Jaclyn Smith launched fashion jewelry through her website, amazon.com, Walmart.com, superjeweler.com, and specialty stores. The collection includes a luminescent gold-plated brass cuff bracelet priced at $19.99. Gold split hoop earrings are $12.99 and moissanite solitaire necklaces are $49.97.
“I’m a jewelry lover. I’ve been collecting all my life,” Smith said. “This line is inspired by my personal jewelry and my mother’s jewelry. When paired with my fine jewelry, you won’t be able to tell the difference. It sparkles, it’s affordable, and it’s the perfect addition to my apparel. Among her favorite items is a knotted gold-plated brass bracelet for $19.99, which she says is reminiscent of 1960s Gucci.” She didn’t want anything flashy. ” She doesn’t wear earrings, but she also loves moissanite studs. “Even at this age, I’m still going to stab them. It’s time.”
Andrew Fox, president and chief executive officer of Hansa USA, said the jewelry is targeted at women in their 40s and older. Hansa USA is a vertically integrated fine jewelry and fashion jewelry licensing and manufacturing company that produces jewelry for Smiths as well as Martha Stewart, Bruno Mari and Wounded Warrior Projects. “Jaclyn Smith’s jewelry fits the personality of her demographic in a very specific way: women who want to wear something bigger and prettier, but trendy and up-to-date and not extravagant, at a lower price point. We visited her home with Jaclyn, took photos of her jewelry, and went from there. She’s just incredibly lovely and easy to get along with.”
Gold-plated cuff bracelet from the Jaclyn Smith Jewelry line.
“She has a sense of authenticity with an unpretentious California elegance that appeals to traditional consumers and their daughters’ daughters,” said Ken Wise, branding and licensing director at Wise Consulting LLC, a firm that helps Smith and other brands and designers expand their profile and product categories. Wise has listed manufacturers licensed to produce Jaclyn Smith ready-to-wear, fragrances and jewelry. “We would like to license her shoes, accessories and eyewear,” Weiss said. High-quality jewelry using Hansa is being considered.
“Jaclyn Smith is a brand that has been around for a long time, but it hasn’t lost any momentum or relevance,” added Lisa Schultz, a partner at Wise. “This brand has a wide range of influence.”
At PaleyFest, a fan asked Angels about Smith’s breast cancer at a time when she had to turn down the lead role in a James Bond film due to contractual obligations on “Charlie’s Angels.” They also asked about specific “Charlie’s” episodes, including the one where the Angels were chained up in prison and the one where Smith’s character, Kelly Garrett, was injected with a drug. “In that episode, I let go of the glamor and played with more depth.”
More importantly, “On the show, we were doing things that were men’s jobs at the time. We were working for Charlie, but he didn’t control us. This was about women coming into their own. We were chasing danger, rather than being rescued from it. We were doing things that were men’s jobs at the time. But the heartbeat of the show was the bond between the Angels. Shakespeare didn’t, and we didn’t make excuses for the charm, but the Angels used it to catch the bad guys. Today, we need more.” [from all the woes of the world]. I watched “Gilmore Girls”. “I couldn’t believe how much fun it was. The dialogue was so crisp and sharp,” Smith said. It holds up today. ”
Smith said the friendship between the Angels went “a long way” and they still keep in touch. When Fawcett left the show after the first season, “We were shocked and disappointed. But when someone isn’t happy, how do you ask them to stay?” After a legal battle, Fawcett returned to the show for several more seasons.
Smith’s overnight fame on “Charlie’s Angels” enabled him to launch a fashion collection exclusively at Kmart in 1985. “I was involved in everything, from the cuts to the prices to the buttoning.” Her brand was one of the reasons Kmart survived despite years of mismanagement, bankruptcies, and store closures. The Jaclyn Smith Collection disappeared for a while before relaunching on HSN in January 2023. Her ready-to-wear range is also aimed at women over 40, with classic pieces, on-trend pieces, and a wide range of sizes that, she says, “fit real people.”
“Branding was Plan B and it kept me very busy,” Smith said. “It’s easier to make a movie than to have a brand. Branding is a day-to-day thing, business is a day-to-day thing.”
She collects jewelry, including vintage Cartier and Tiffany items, as well as antique watches and bracelets. “My husband loves to give me jewelry and always buys antique jewelry. My engagement ring was from the 1920s.” Deco period is my favorite period.
She said her book details her Texas roots and her “idyllic childhood” in Houston, riding bikes, playing Jack’s and riding horses on her uncle’s farm in the summers. “It was every child’s dream. We didn’t have computers or cell phones. I want people to know how I grew up. I hope my book captures my family. That’s what I’m all about.” There are also chapters that cover what people should know about her films, acting, mentoring, and fame.
“Fame is a crazy thing. It can give and it can take away,” Smith said. However, writing the book was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I kept retreating from it.” At least when it comes to his personal life, “I’m very private.”
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