Fashion influencer and plus size model Kaisa Suomalainen, 37, does not understand why plus size people feel the need to hide themselves.
When Kaisa Suomalainen, 37, walks in the city, he wants to be noticed. Kaisa is often asked how she dares to wear flashy clothes. This question causes him great surprise.
– How can the fact that I am bigger have anything to do with daring? It’s really outdated to think that another person’s size matters. Size does not define anyone in any way, Kaisa begins.
The most important thing for him is to be happy when he looks in the mirror. This is how he himself describes his style:
– The first thing you notice about my style is that I am a woman with a capital n. I don’t want to hide the fact that I have shapes. I don’t want to hide the fact that I am a sensual, middle-aged woman. I want everyone else to notice that a person of this age and size can feel comfortable in any kind of clothes.
– My style is colorful. I want to fight against the idea that colors or patterns don’t belong on bigger bodies. I use strong colors and patterns and combine them. It’s not bravery, it’s my style, Kaisa sums up.
Through clothes, he wants to convey the positive energy inside him.
A relaxed, well-fitting jacket is suitable for any occasion. Festiveness can be achieved with accessories and heels, and relaxedness can be achieved by combining the outfit with sneakers. Kaisa Henriikka
Revealing the cleavage and shoulders is allowed for everyone. Kaisa Henriikka
“I’d rather overrun than underrun”
Kaisa’s fashion journey started at a young age. This is thanks to her aunts, who traveled a lot and brought wonderful clothes from, for example, Paris. However, finding my own style identity started later. More specifically, around 18 years old.
– I’ve always dressed very neatly, a little over-the-top. I’d rather have overs than unders, Kaisa sums up.
– I had a business style between the ages of 18 and 23, even though I was a student.
However, collared shirts and suits got out of the way when she fell in love with dresses and cheerful patterns.
– For a long time, the most important thing for me has been that the garment fits and makes me happy.
They say that dressing is mainly for yourself. Kaisa agrees with this, but she still hopes that sometimes we would consciously dress for others as well.
– I sometimes choose clothes clearly based on the fact that I want to make others feel good.
– If I go to an event where there are, say, plus-size people, I want to dress even more colorfully “in your face”. I want to show in practice that size does not matter.
Colors bring energy. Feel free to combine colorful accessories as well. Kaisa Henriikka
A knee-length skirt or dress is always in good taste. Combining a shirt of the same color creates a well-thought-out ensemble. Kaisa Henriikka
“I feel good in my body”
The secret of Kaisa’s style is that he likes being with himself.
– I feel good about my body and I am satisfied with myself every morning when I wake up and look in the mirror. If these blocks weren’t right, I probably wouldn’t dress the way I do. It all comes down to being able to accept myself, in any situation.
– I’ve been much smaller, and I’m probably at my heaviest right now. I don’t let it affect how I feel or how I dress.
Kaisa can’t imagine that she should hide herself or wear loose black clothes.
– I accept my situation, and now let’s go with these clothes and buy a bigger one if necessary.
– You shouldn’t let size or other external things determine how your day starts.
Self-satisfaction is always visible on the outside. Put on an outfit that makes you feel beautiful. Kaisa Henriikka
A coverall is a multipurpose piece of clothing. It is suitable for work, everyday life or casual parties. Kaisa Henriikka
“You have to believe that you are good enough”
Kaisa has been confident since she was a child. He has always been social and the funniest person in the group.
– I’ve always had good friends. I haven’t seen my size be a hindrance or a hindrance to anything I’ve done.
– I believe that my attitude comes strongly from home education. From a young age, I have been told how good, beautiful and sufficient I am. In addition to my parents, my close friends have also said this.
Kaisa has been on display since childhood. He has performed and sung in front of audiences.
– Exposing oneself to people’s criticism from a young age increases self-esteem. Then you have to believe that it is good enough.
– Self-esteem does not fall from the sky, but if it is built in a healthy way from the beginning, it is difficult to break it later in life, Kaisa sums up.
Kaisa’s tips for party dressing
1. Follow etiquette
– When you dress the way the situation demands, you gain respect in the situation, you can be more socially talented. You can also relax in a party situation, because you know that it’s not at least how you dress, how you do.
2. Who sent the invitation
Kaisa advises to think about the sender of the invitation and how he or she usually dresses in a party situation. Here you can find inspiration or a guideline for your own choice of outfit.
3. You can go crazy in the summer
For a fun summer party, you should wear something cheerful. Kaisa suggests playing with colors and patterns.
– Everyone has permission to go crazy in the summer, Kaisa sums up.
4. Leave the mundane details at home
Kaisa says that she hates the fact that elements that are too casual have been introduced in connection with a beautiful party outfit.
– If you have, for example, a nice dress and you add the leggings underneath, which can be seen below, then the party and everyday life come together. At the same time, the significance of the celebration decreases.
Kaisa’s tip! If you are bigger and your thighs rub together, wear shorts under the dress instead of leggings.
5. Don’t hide
Kaisa recommends plus-size women not to hide themselves.
– We have breasts and a butt, is it such a terrible thing? Who defined it that because we have more shapes, we should hide them, Kaisa wonders.
Plus-sized women can also wear a top or dress that reveals their arms. Halterneck dresses and off-shoulder dresses are a good choice regardless of size.
6. Forget Finnish modesty
Finnish modesty can sometimes rear its head. Kaisa says that you shouldn’t think too much about whether something is too much or too little.
– Too much of you can be the very thing that gets noticed.
– In summer dressing, more is more.
7. Get a party dress well in advance
According to Kaisa, you shouldn’t buy party clothes at the last minute. It’s better to put on credit clothes than to buy in a hurry, where you don’t even feel comfortable.
– If you don’t think the clothes bring out your best features, don’t wear them. A bad feeling is always visible to others.
– Dress in such a way that your personality and wonderful inner self-esteem shines through everything.
Safe clothing options for women:
Kaisa says that with these different outfit options you can get by at spring, summer and autumn parties. Just play around with different accessories.
1. Solid color knee-length dress.
2. A casual suit.
3. Jumpsuit with short sleeves or a maxi dress.
Kaisa rarely wears black, never all black. Kaisa Henriikka
A jacket works as a credit outfit when you don’t have time to think about what to wear. Kaisa Henriikka
“Sometimes you have to go further out to sea to fish”
Kaisa has lived in London for six years now. He knows that finding plus size fashion is much more difficult in Finland than in London.
– I’m sorry on behalf of all plus-size Finnish women that it is not possible for them to buy colorful, fitting, wonderful and feminine clothes.
In London, the selection is considerably more, although Kaisa says that the sale of plus sizes in brick-and-mortar stores has stopped in London as well.
– Instead, the selection has expanded explosively in online fashion stores.
– Sometimes you have to go further out to sea to fish, Kaisa continues.
He feels that Finns need to stop buttering up and make discoveries and purchases from online stores, even if they have to pay customs fees.
– As a Finnish plus-size woman, you have the option of buying online. Online stores have very accurate measurements, so you rarely make impulse purchases.
– Finns must now understand that plus-size fashion has moved online, so they must move there with them. Fighting won’t help.
Kaisa advises to take good measures of yourself and head to the wonderful world of online shopping.