7 Throwback Pics Of Shelley Fabares That Captured The '60s Perfectly

Shelly Fabares enjoyed a very long and storied career. From her earliest modeling days at just three years old up until her passing at age 82 in August 2026, Fabares worked in the entertainment industry in multiple capacities. In addition to modeling, throughout her childhood, teenage, and adult years, Fabares appeared on television programs like "The Donna Reed Show," "The Rockford Files," "The Love Boat," "Murder, She Wrote," and "One Day at a Time" (we recently reflected on what the stars of "One Day at a Time" look like these days). In the 1960s, Fabares starred alongside rock-and-roll icon Elvis Presley in the films "Girl Happy," "Spinout," and "Clambake." Fabares even made her mark on the music industry, releasing multiple albums as a teen pop star; her 1962 song "Johnny Angel" famously reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Fabares' massive presence throughout the 1960s as a young, rising celebrity makes her influence on the decade undeniable. Between working with some of the biggest stars of the era, starring in many beloved television shows and films, and recording music, Fabares was one of the hardest-working young stars of the decade. Given all of the 1960s-inspired fashion trends making a comeback today, Fabares' iconic '60s style is well worth taking a look at over six decades later. 

Beach party movies were some of the most popular films of the 1960s. Like other actors of the decade, Shelley Fabares starred in a few of them. One of Fabares' most notable was Elvis Presley's 1965 film "Girl Happy." In one photo from the film's production, Fabares poses on the beach alongside co-stars Lyn Edgington and Chris Noel. Fabares stunned in a bright-yellow bikini, showcasing how more daring two-piece swimsuits had finally made their way into the mainstream in the middle of the decade. 

While Shelley Fabares often shared the screen with Elvis Presley in the 1960s, she also collaborated with other musical artists on film. In 1966, she starred alongside British pop-rock group Herman's Hermits in the film "Hold On!" In one promo shot for the movie, Fabares rocked a shift dress with mod white designs and a pair of white heeled boots. Fabares wore her hair blond (rather than her natural brown or more regularly dyed red) for the film, which was styled into a modest beehive. 

While Shelley Fabares got her start in the entertainment industry as a child model, the actor continued modeling throughout the 1960s as a young adult, and some of her most well-known portraits featured bridal couture. For a 1965 photoshoot, Fabares posed in a glamorous lace wedding gown that screamed '60s elegance. The dress featured a high neck, long sleeves, and a tiered skirt — all in delicate white lace. The timeless gown bore a striking resemblance to Grace Kelly's 1956 lace wedding dress, which is still inspiring brides to this day.

Shelley Fabares starred in quite a few of the 1960s' most popular beach films. Alongside fellow teen star Fabian, Fabares led the 1964 film "Ride the Wild Surf." In one promotional picture for the movie, Fabares posed with Fabian on the beach. Fabares showed off another stunning '60s beachwear look, donning a white bikini covered in lace ruffles. Fabares' blond bob was curled under delicately to fit the beachy vibes of the film. 

Shelley Fabares starred alongside Elvis Presley in three films throughout the 1960s, including 1966's "Spinout." In this shot from the film, Fabares shows off an impressively timeless look, as her bold hair and yellow vest top would be just as stylish today as it was back then in the mid-1960s. Given how a bouncy bob is one of the haircuts everyone will be asking for in fall 2026, Fabares' chic, shoulder-grazing brown bob is one of her most classic looks. 

Shelley Fabares had a career that spanned television, film, modeling, and music, but she's perhaps most well-known for her role in "The Donna Reed Show." Fabares portrayed Donna Reed's teenage daughter Mary Stone on the beloved sitcom. In one promotional shot of the show's cast in 1961, Fabares (as Mary) dons a very late '50s, early-60s A-line dress and a modest string of pearls. Her dark-brown hair was impeccably curled, giving her the perfect look for an "all-American" teenager in the early part of the decade. 

While many of Shelley Fabares' most iconic photos from the 1960s reflect the mod period of the decade with short hair either beehived or worn in curls, one 1965 portrait gives us a glimpse of the young actor in a different light. In the posed photo, Fabares donned a psychedelic floral tank top and wore her brown hair long and straight. While the photo is dated from the middle of the decade, Fabares' boho chic vibe was ahead of its time (resembling the hippie culture that emerged toward the end of the 1960s).