The well-known Kaarina Suonperä’s advice on good manners and dress codes has stuck in the minds of Finns. These are Kaarina’s most important pieces of advice.
Habit trainer Kaarina Suonperä, 81, slept away on July 23 at home. Suonperä became known for his harsh criticism and his blue clothes, which were the trademark of the moral trainer.
Suonperä was also known as a journalist and the long-term chairman of Tapaseura. Suonperä received the title of chamber councilor from the president of the republic in 2015. He also worked actively in positions of trust in the church.
Finns remembered the role of Suonperä’s expert the best, through which he gave advice and tips on how to dress in different media. As an example, he usually used public figures who from time to time received complete shocks from Kaarina with their clothing choices.
During the past few years, Suonperä had time to comment on the etiquette of various programs and events and pointed out directly if he noticed any mistakes in manners. Iltalehti collected Suonperä’s best-known advice.
Castle party
Regarding the castle’s parties, Suonperä reminded several times that you can’t dress as you like in the castle, but you have to follow etiquette there. Violations at the party made Suonperä wonder about manners.
According to Suonperä, women should wear a party dress, i.e. a full-length dress, under which only the tips of the shoes can be seen. Men, on the other hand, should have a tailcoat and matching shoes.
The manners trainer wondered about the “solo” style of dressing Linna’s parties. For example, the tailcoat and red shoes made him say direct words.
– Time after time I wonder where this spirit of rebellion comes from. The host team has considered the party’s dress code. Why do you have to go solo against it? Suonperä was upset at that time.
In addition to the clothing choices, the etiquette trainer wondered about the seriousness of the guests. According to him, the guests often looked confused while waiting in line to shake hands with the presidential couple.
– A lot of people didn’t smile until they left the handshake. In that situation, it would be good to remember the old adage: smile when we meet, Suonperä often reminded.
Suonperä met sports advisor Pentti Katainen in the 1990s. The couple was married until Kaarina’s death. Jenni Gästgivar
Too much is too much
Suonperä had a lot to say about the ambassador’s reception. He was dismayed when the leader of the cross country team Olli-Pekka Kärkkäinen represented at the event in sweatpants.
– Bone button on the forehead. When the ambassador is participating in the event, you don’t go there in sweatpants. As the name of the pants says, they are track pants that belong on sports fields. They don’t even belong in a garden party, Suonperä snarled at the time.
The etiquette trainer thought it was sad that dress codes are not followed at fancy events. It often saddened him that Finns are not first class dressers.
The language use of public figures also made the manners educator wonder. In 2017, he criticized especially young artists’ way of cursing and using footnoted vocabulary.
– There are so many beautiful words in the Finnish language.
Kaarina comments on Finns’ customs directly, but also with humor and gentleness, even though she was a “smoking aunt”. Pete Anikari
Direct gentle words
Kaarina was known for her criticism, with which she wanted to awaken Finns to the world of good manners.
In addition to public figures, he advised ordinary citizens on gift tips and meetings. For the student, Suonperä recommended a rose and a gift card, because according to him, money alone is not a good gift.
– Friendship is not measured in money. It would be a shame to miss the party because there is no money to put 50 euros in the envelope. The most important thing is to go there and congratulate, Suonperä instructed.
The most important advice from the etiquette trainer was that looking into the eyes and smiling were the most important gestures in human interaction. He emphasized this habit among his other pieces of advice.