A Collaboration Rooted in Purpose, Power & Possibility
- Samantha Sliney
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 16
White Lace & Combat Boots x Tony Armadillo
At White Lace & Combat Boots, we believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for social change. This collaboration with acclaimed artist Tony Armadillo is a testament to that truth—a visual tribute to the leadership, sacrifice, and resilience of women in uniform.
It began with a personal connection. After purchasing Tony’s striking piece, Female Empowerment Denied, I began my search to track down Tony’s contact info. My search quickly resulted in locating Colonel Danielle Hoffman, a fellow Air Force officer and Tony’s niece. We both were members of a Facebook group created to support women officers in the Air Force. Through her, I was connected with Tony to explore the possibility of collaborating on a piece that would represent the lived experiences of servicewomen across the military.
That connection deepened when I discovered that Tony not only had a niece who served but his three sisters served in the Air Force as well. Through these shared connections, we found shared values—service, advocacy, and the power of representing untold stories. I sent him photos and shared the vision behind White Lace & Combat Boots—and Tony took that inspiration and created something breathtaking.
From Tony Armadillo
Artist Statement
Women have always played critical roles in each society yet are denied the credit they deserve. In primitive African cultures, a male leader will wear the mask of a female and is expected to spiritually become a female thus allowing him to view the world from a female’s perspective and the community honors his final decision as being fair-minded.
Yet in our modern culture, women may not be recognized for their skills, strength, and leadership. They earn less than men, hold fewer positions of power, and many countries like the United States have yet to select a female to lead their nation. The image displays women’s strengths and encourages them to follow and lead the way into the future.
Artwork Description
The inspiration for the composition was inspired by a statement I read by a young female Native American as I researched information about women pilots. Her statement was, “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”
The second inspiration was the painting, Birth of Venus by the Italian artist Sandro Botticell. His painting depicts Venus standing in the center on a seashell floating in the water. She is flanked by Zephyrus, a wind god and Hora of springtime.
The third, Liberty Leading the People painting by Eugène Delacroix, is the final inspiration.
The military female figure I selected is center stage, instead of the seashell she is standing on the planet Venus. She is flanked by the energy of the planet on the right and the left with gold-leaf. Gold-leaf is used to portray her energy and the value of all women.
Her posture is based on the painting, Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix. She stands one foot leading and one poised to support her stance. She raises her right arm as if to lead and encourage others to follow. Her left arm supports the newborn and the American flag with ease. The helmet slightly shelters her identity but one can see that she is focused on what lies ahead and is unwavering. The newborn faces the viewer as if to question the viewer; are you witnessing the message?
At her feet which are firmly planted on the ground and supported by the images of women who were instrumental in breaking barriers for women in the military and aviation like:
Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt
First female USAF fighter pilot
Jacqueline Cochran
WWII aviator & advocate for women pilots
Maj. Marisol Chalas
First Latina Black Hawk helicopter pilot
Lt. Col. Olga Custodio
First female Hispanic U.S. military pilot
Amelia Earhart
First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic
Katherine Johnson
NASA mathematician, Hidden Figures
Mary Golda Ross
First Native American female engineer
Harriet Quimby
First U.S. woman to earn a pilot license
Bessie Coleman
First African American & Native American female pilot
Sally Ride
First American woman in space
Ginger Rogers once said, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly are great dancers but women dance the same moves, going backwards and in heels. Women can do it all.
Buy the artwork
*If you purchase from this link, the artwork will not have the gold leaf detail on the bottom. The gold leaf likely will appear as dark shades/shapes. If you would like the gold leaf detail, contact Tony directly to order.
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