Teemu Muurimäki, who designed Atte Kilpinen’s Independence Day suit, considers the etiquette of men’s formal wear to be very narrow.
Finnish National Ballet dancer Atte Kilpinen’s bright pink tailcoat was one of the most spectacular outfits at Linna’s party – and the most talked about.
Teemu Muurimäki, who designed the suit, followed the reactions from the media on the evening of Independence Day.
Muurimäki tells Iltalehte that he has received exceptionally good feedback about the suit. One in particular has stuck in Muurimäki’s mind.
– What is the best thing that a clothing designer can achieve, of course, is that the mother tells that the eight-year-old child, who does not fit into traditional molds, was really happy when he saw the suit on TV and had asked that “can men dress like that too?”, Muurimäki says.
Ballet dancer Atte Kilpinen Linna’s party costume is designed by designer Teemu Muurimäki. Evening newspaper
According to castle etiquette, men should wear dark clothing. The suit, designed by Muurimäki Kilpinen, was made of bright pink wool satin, including the shirt, vest and bow.
Muurimäki has been dressing guests at Linna for twenty years and has thought a lot about etiquette. Especially for men, according to Muurimäki, the etiquette of party dressing is very narrow.
– It’s really narrow how a man is seen, the fashion designer says.
Atte Kilpinen wanted a distinctive suit for Linna. Mikko Huisko
Respectful of etiquette
According to Muurimäki, etiquette is typically seen as a chain. For the designer himself, it appears as a guideline that tells about the nature of the occasion.
– It’s about the independence celebration and what it represents. With small steps, we can change our lovely Finland to be more tolerant and colorful, says Muurimäki.
For Muurimäki, who has designed numerous costumes for the castle celebrations, the feedback comes as somewhat of a surprise every year. The situation was the same this year.
– Yesterday even felt a bit dramatic at times, Muurimäki laughs.
– However, there was nothing degrading about the suit. It was respectful of etiquette: a tailcoat made with style and quality fabric. I take my hat off to Atte Kilpinen, who is a brave young man.
Teemu Muurimäki was inspired by the wearer of the costume, ballet dancer Atte Kilpinen. Mikko Huisko
Muurimäki says that he wanted to make Kilpinen a classic suit, but with some distinctive element. Kilpinen himself wished for a suit that would have its own look.
The pink color was a clear choice for both Kilpinen and Muurimäki from the beginning.
– Atte said, definitely pink.
In the design, Muurimäki was inspired above all by the wearer of the suit.
– Ate’s luminosity and enthusiasm. The attitude that a suit can be anything, says Muurimäki.
– Atte was a great inspiration and his idea that there is no need to be in a traditional box at Linna’s parties.