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    14 servicewomen salute the runway during New York Fashion Week

    14 servicewomen salute the runway during New York Fashion Week

    Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Ali Blackburn | Military servicewomen get their little black dresses fitted, Sept. 2, 2014, the day...... read more read more

    NEW YORK - The music is loud and the lights are incredibly bright; blinding, even. The tension in the air is thick, exciting, and terrifying. The director behind the stage is pushing each girl out, on cue, coaxing them to put one foot in front of the other and show the crowd what they’ve got. One by one, they take the catwalk, a thrilling nervousness shooting through their bodies as news teams photograph and video their every movement. The crowd is going wild, cheering and applauding with such fervor, one might think these girls are famous. And they are, if only for tonight.

    On Wed., Sept. 3, 2014, fourteen retired, active, and reserve servicewomen kicked off New York Fashion Week after walking the runway at NYC’s Lincoln Center. Little Black Dress Wines and Fatigues to Fabulous (F2F), a campaign supporting women as they transition back to civilian life, sponsored the fashion show “Salute the Runway.”

    The women received beauty treatments from Aveda and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics to prepare and empower them before the show. Each lady wore signature little black dresses, donated by designers like Calvin Klein, Carmen Mac Valvo, and Donna Karan.

    Coming from all walks of life, each servicewoman received this incredible opportunity to meet one another, share their stories, and be made to feel beautiful and appreciated. Having met just a couple days prior to the event, these fourteen strangers quickly built friendships, bonded by familiarity of serving their country. It all began in a small hotel room.

    Walking into room 516 of The Empire Hotel, one of Manhattan’s most famous boutique hotels, it was hard to know exactly what to expect. Inside, a group of women sat happily chatting, crowded onto a queen-sized bed and taking up most of the floor space. A sturdy, aged Golden Retriever laid contently in the corner of the room sleeping, his vest proudly displaying the fact that he was a service dog. Smiling, content faces greeted newcomers, despite the fact that the room was sweltering; hot and humid because of the faulty air conditioning system. Leslie Nicole Smith, a retired Army Captain and the owner of the snoozing pooch in the corner, freely offered hugs, her small frame supported by a prosthetic leg. Smith is a retired Army Captain, an amputee, and legally blind following a deployment to Bosnia in 2001. As spokesperson for the F2F campaign, Smith has been an inspiration to servicewomen throughout the country.

    “There is so much meaning and inspiration behind each woman who walks out representing their service, their sacrifice, their branch,” said Smith. “It is so empowering, you walk away with such confidence and inner strength that you can do anything.”

    The campaign is working with the fashion industry to help women make the transition to a civilian wardrobe, raise awareness of the challenges women veterans face upon return, and harness resources to support them. This initiative focuses on giving female soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines recognition for their service.

    The event was about so much more than just hair, makeup, pretty dresses and paparazzi. These women were able to connect with one another, since many had already gone through the transition of military to civilian life after serving their country. Some lost their eyesight or a limb, while some simply lost the sense of belonging to something greater than themselves. A military career can be all-consuming, but this event allowed women to view themselves as unique individuals; beautiful inside and out.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.03.2014
    Date Posted: 09.08.2014 10:27
    Story ID: 141384
    Location: NEW YORK, NY, US
    Hometown: THOMPSON FALLS, MT, US
    Hometown: TROUT CREEK, MT, US

    Web Views: 174
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN