Green MP Fatim Diarra is a first-timer at Linna’s party. It is a matter of course for him to wear Finnish fashion for the Independence Day reception.
– I have great faith in people. I think that you have to trust your own people so much that it scares you – then the end result is usually really good, says MP Fatim Diarra (Vihr.)
This was also the starting point for the Castle Party outfit, which first-year MP Diarra was thought about by her friend’s stylist Meri Milashin with.
– My thinking is that if someone is an expert on something, I will gladly ask for help. According to my experience, when you give full trust, people exceed expectations, says Diarra.
Milash pointed out that there is a unique item hanging in his closet Katri Niskanen a creation made to measure for her birthday.
– I remembered that it is a wonderful dress. Meri asked if I wanted to put it on – and indeed I did. If a great dress is ready and it spends its time in a dusty closet, there’s no point in it. Let’s give the dress a new stage, says Diarra.
Fatim Diarra borrows from a friend to live in Linna. Katri Niskanen’s dress has been modified by a fashion designer to fit the Linna. Elle Laitila
Diarra says that Katri Niskanen’s aesthetics have always pleased her eye.
– He knows how to respect a woman’s body very beautifully. I think that there is no need to hide your body anywhere. I think my body is beautiful and I didn’t want to wear anything. Katri knows how to dress women so that their body shapes look like sculptures, Diarra describes.
The showy suit was adapted to fit Diarra and Linna. Among other things, a deep crack was patched up.
For Diarra, it was obvious to wear Finnish fashion for the Independence Day reception. Elle Laitila
In Vitunleija to the Castle?
Diarra says that when thinking about Linna’s party, the Finnish outfit was a matter of course for her.
Diarra also wondered for a moment if her younger brother, Baka Diarra, who made a name for himself as a fashion designer and is known for his Vitunleija brand, had made her a dress. That time will come later.
– I bet that one day I will walk to Linna’s party in Vitunleija, but maybe not in the first year. Baka and I talked about it. He probably had more ability to throw himself than I did at this stage, says Diarra.
– In a way, I would have liked a presenter to say that “Fatim Diarra is walking in Vitunleija”. That would have been so cool. I’ll have to do it at some point.
– I don’t have a bag yet. Maybe Baka can make me a bag, let’s see!
Finnish and African
Diarra is also comfortable in Finnish clothes – her kaikas and marim dresses.
– When I am on representative duties, I always wear Finnish clothes. I try to give space to Finnish designers. I started doing this already as chairman of the Helsinki City Council, when I realized that I was being photographed all the time in magazines, says Diarra.
Sometimes Diarra prefers African fabrics.
– When I spoke in the racism statement, I purposely paired a Finnish shirt with a long skirt made of Malian fabric. It mattered to me what I had put on. I gained strength from my clothing choices, says Diarra.
Diarra’s father is from Mali.
“Always too much or too little”
Fatim Diarra knows that women are often judged. Elle Laitila
– It’s pointless to lie to yourself that your dressing isn’t being looked at and followed, says Diarra.
The member of parliament says that women are treated with “tremendous judgment”.
– A woman is never suitable as she is: a woman is either too short, too tall, too thin, too fat, too young or too old. Too much make-up or too little make-up, says Diarra.
For the reasons mentioned above, it has been confirmed to Diarra that the purpose of dressing is to please oneself.
– Because I’m a black and fat feminist woman, it means that some people will hate me anyway. I don’t have to please these people with my clothes, but dress in such a way that I feel confident and good about myself, says Diarra.
Diarra’s Linna jupital costume has a hood and a lot of volume. Diarra combines Kalevala jewelry with her costume. Elle Laitila
After the party
Diarra is enthusiastic about the castle’s celebrations, but is prepared for sweating and traffic jams.
– I was thinking of gathering a good group and going to eat before the party. The old rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t go to any party on an empty stomach, he says.
– It (going to the Castle) is a bit tense and nerve-wracking, so it’s nice for the group to hang out before that and build up the festive spirit throughout the day, says Diarra.
After the party, the blue dream dress is returned to Milash, but Diarra would not consider it impossible to borrow the dress again for another occasion.
– It’s wonderful that clothes can be used multiple times, he says.
Makeup and hair: Tiina-Maria Valanti/ Office.