First Lady of Fashion: Mari Kiviniemi

Prime Minister of Finland Mari Kiviniemi

Finland’s attractive new Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi could potentially serve as a fashion icon, showcasing the best of Finnish fashion design. That is what first lady Jackie Kennedy did for the USA in the 1960s, when she became a symbol of sophisticated style from America.

The personal style of another Finnish politician, President Tarja Halonen, has previously gotten a good deal of attention, as is often the case with female leaders. For her large purses, Mrs. Halonen has also been compared by some local wits to Moomin Mamma, the mother of the main character in a popular series of children’s books from Finland.
That is not precisely the kind of fashion ambassador needed by Finland. We need a fresh start.

Perhaps our new prime minister, Mari Kiviniemi, can fill this role.
Mari Kiviniemi got off to a shaky start when she was spotted wearing a hot pink jacket shortly after coming into office in the summer of 2010.

Over a glass of wine, a pair of stylists observed that Mrs. Kiviniemi, 42, may now be going too far in the opposite direction, favoring the business suit and corporate style. “It makes her look too old.”

But the consensus is that the prime minister has been able to pull off some lovely ensembles. “I really think that she has an eye for colors and how to mix them together. I like the simplicity and clean silhouettes of her clothes,” says stylist Niko Luostarinen.
On the other hand, Niko isn’t certain that the clothes the prime minister really needs exist in Finland. “We need more high-end labels.”