Salute to Military Women and Designing Woman, Carolina Herrera

Carmen Marc Valvo, right, with his model-military woman, Letrice Titus, after the "Salute the Runway" fashion show. Photo by Yours Truly.

HERE they come prancing down the runway in Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Mara Hoffman.

It is the day before the official start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York, but there are no Joans or Imans on this runway in The Pavilion tent at Lincoln Center.

These girls are not walking for Carolina Herrera, who was honored earlier in the day with the 2014 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion by the Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

But here is Kelly, Letrice and 13 others turned out in black dresses. None models. All current and former military women on the catwalk in “Salute the Runway.” Launched in June by Little Black Dress Wines and Fatigues to Fabulous, “Salute the Runway” is a sort of graduation ceremony for a program held on military bases around the country.

Its mission is to support military women and raise awareness about the difficulties they face readjusting to civilian life.

Not exactly at the top of the list of most women leaving the military is what to wear. Yet, it is a very important consideration. After all, a girl can't walk around in uniform or fatigues all of her live-long days.

And every girl should own and deserves a little black dress like the sleeveless gown version with slimming gold panels on the side designed by Carmen Marc Valvo. The designer has supported Fatigues to Fabulous for several years.

Or a little black dress with zippers here and there such as the conservative affair designed by … Betsey Johnson!

Visit http://www.lbdwines.com to learn more about Little Black Dress Wines; vist http://www.fatiguestofabulous.com to learn more about Fatigues to Fabulous.