Interview With An Angel: Jaclyn Smith

In the late '70s, I grew up watching Charlie's Angels, an American crime drama television series with three beautiful women private detectives fighting crimes. In the show, these women were former-police officers who were dissatisfied with their menial assignments in the police force. They left to become private investigators solving crimes under the Charles Townsend Agency, hence, Charlie's Angels. The series initially starred Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith. These badass characters were intelligent, beautiful, strong, good with weapons, and always dressed in the hottest fashion. Charlie's Angels were one of the first major popular TV shows that empowered women to achieve in a male-dominated industry beyond the stereotyped female roles.

“We were independent women making our way. Our lives didn’t revolve around men. There was a bond with the girls, and we had loyalty to each other which was a gift from heaven, and that’s what we want today,” Jaclyn Smith said.

And that’s what the Jaclyn Smith brand is all about – to empower women.

The television show ran from 1976 to 1981 and continues to have a pop culture following till today. Forty years later, it is still a part of Jaclyn’s everyday life and a fond memory.

Jaclyn Smith was one of the first celebrities to design her fashion brand. In 1985, she inked an exclusive licensing deal with Kmart to create her label, which lasted 36 years. This fall, Jaclyn Smith will relaunch her fashion collection with RDG Global and is currently in talks with various outlets. In addition to her signature fashion brand, she has a home textile collection with Fabricut, a direct-to-consumer Jaclyn Smith Beauty skincare line that she partnered and developed with her pediatric cardiac surgeon husband, Brad Allen. She also co-created a line of fashion wigs with her dear friend and celebrity hairstylist José Eber, called STYLE by Jaclyn Smith.

At age 76, Smith looks “younger” than her 39-year-old “son-shine,” Gaston Richmond, from a recent picture posted on her Instagram page that went viral. She is energetic, vibrant, and runs a business empire.

Chan: Did you know that you have a pop cult following on YouTube?

Smith: That’s an interesting fact, and sometimes you wonder and assume that they have not seen Charlie’s Angels. When my kids were little, even they didn't watch the show. They didn’t tie the two together. My son used to ask me, “is that Jaclyn Smith on the show?” Sometimes you assume that you haven’t reached that many generations. The re-runs help.

Chan: You are an absolute icon and have a very successful fashion empire with one of the most extended celebrity fashion brands, a designer wigs line, a home textile collection, and a skincare line. What is the secret to your success?

Smith: The secret is to work hard, but if you are only doing it for a paycheck, you might as well give it up and do something else. I have chosen such incredible people to work with to build my brand. It is a collaboration, and it is about the team surrounding you. When I think about RDG Global, who is relaunching my apparel line, they understand my brand and me. There’s a long-time friendship, trust, and respect. They would be able to tell my story right along with me. So it doesn’t even feel like work. I feel so grateful that after 36 years with Kmart, I can branch into a new collection with RDG. It is a departure from Kmart and its clothes that I dream of designing and would wear in my personal life. It is still about value and quality. I feel fortunate because you don’t always get the second go around.

But as a young girl, I like to work. I enjoy taking on different chores, and a strong work ethic has been a part of me since a young age.

Chan: How do you pivot and reinvent your collection after having a long relationship with Kmart?

Smith: I am wiser today after 36 years of working with Kmart. It was an education. At first, I turned down the offer from Kmart, I didn’t shop at Kmart, but then I saw a line of clothing there and thought, how do they do this at that price point?

My mother’s dream was to be a designer at one point. I always loved fashion but designing for the mass market was daunting. Where do you put the button? How do you produce it at that price? That’s what I’ve learned working with Kmart for 36 years. That is what I’ve taken to this new endeavor. I believe in timelessness, but the line is right on trend. Our choice of fabrics, trims, and detailing is a step above the past. We are doing some great things, like faux fur and faux leather; there's this great crocodile pattern skirt that I can’t wait to wear. I am excited to show the collection to this customer who has followed and grown up with me. Many people said why are you doing this? Why don’t you relax and play with your grandkids? Back in the Kmart days, I had to travel to the stores and shake people’s hands to learn the stories in their eyes. Today, Instagram gives you a visual presence, and my followers want me to go on with the new line. That inspires me and makes me want to continue doing a little more.

My other passion is the home textiles and furnishings business. I currently design fabrics with Fabricut and sell mainly to interior designers, and we are also available in JoAnn’s and Calico Corners. I would love to expand on the home category again. During covid, we remodeled every room in the house. We added a fireplace and a porch and used my Inside Out Performance upholstery fabric for my outdoor furniture, and there are still many things in the works. I put the remodeling process on Instagram. Instagram is your calling card and a window to the whole world if you want it to be.

Chan: How was working with your husband as a business partner on the skincare line? Do you have any advice on achieving a successful marriage/partnership?

Smith: Brad is a pediatric heart surgeon and super analytical. We are the balance of right and left brains. He broke down every ingredient, and he enhanced my skincare line. I learn from him that there is always something new to put into the formula. I trust Brad, and he took the beauty line to another level. It's been successful without a lot of marketing because customers come back for more and more.

It took me a long time to get remarried. My husband said the key to a successful marriage was to find the right person, but in my mind, it's so much more than that. You have to have the same values, morals, ethics, and how we would raise children. Brad is a shining star, and he couldn’t be better as a step-dad.

Marriage without compromise will not be successful, and that's the same in any partnership. You have to listen, be open-minded, and sometimes you have to make a detour. Sometimes it is hard, but when it’s right, there’s nothing better. What makes a life good? It is being appreciated, loved, somebody having your back, and knowing it’s real. I say be comfortable in your skin with that person. When you love someone, you have to live beyond yourself; you have to give.

I grew up in a family that set an excellent example for me. When I had my children, I would run in front of a train and through the fire for them. It's unconditional love. They are before you by far. I am glad that I feel that way. If I only thought about myself, I would be in trouble.

Chan: It was interesting to see a fashion wigs line in your business portfolio; what made you start this business?

Smith: The wigs idea originally came as an extension to my on-scene characters and as a fashion statement. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago and was fortunate that I didn't need to go through chemo, but I realized the suffering of cancer patients who lost their hair during their treatment. I support the City of Hope to fight against women's cancer, and with José Eber, my hairstylist, we donate wigs, do wig fittings and offer beauty tips to help the City of Hope cancer patients for a day, which is so fulfilling. Wigs can give that woman femininity and make her come alive again. Wigs can be costly, but my wigs are very affordable, as I am true to my brand, which is about quality and value.

Chan: What continues to drive you?

Smith: I have loved working, being active, creative, and artistic since I was a little girl. Challenges release endorphins and keep you young, and work is rejuvenating. I am at my best when I am working. My family is always my top priority, but; somehow, you make it all work.

Chan: Knowing what you know today and if you can take the time machine back to your young adult years, what would be that one piece of advice you would tell yourself?

Smith: As far as business, I don’t have any regrets. There could have been a regret if I didn’t challenge the unknown. I turned down Kmart initially but changed my mind and went out on a limp with it. My advice is to go towards the fear, the unknown terrain, because that’s where the fruit is. I have been fortunate. Everybody is building a brand today, and building a brand is so tricky; it must have its identity, DNA, and a friend that you can rely on, and all of these ingredients go into a brand.

If you want to do it right, it’s not simple, and it has to have longevity and loyalty. My experience with Kmart opened up so much to me. Taking this on has taught me about retail, studying the world, being empathetic of women’s needs, and knowing what’s happening socially, politically, and economically. That’s what retail is. It’s relentless, and it’s challenging. It’s about the long-distance runner.