Iceland review - 2014, Page 28

26 ICELAND REVIEW
dressinG
the Part
on August 1, 1980, vigdís Finnbogadóttir was sworn into
office as president of iceland. For the occasion she wore
an understated blue silk gown she had created with the
seamstress of the reykjavík city Theater, which she directed
up until her presidency. Wearing that gown, as opposed to the
national costume skautbúningur, was a deliberate choice. “The
fjallkona (‘Mountain Woman’) who traditionally wears this cos-
tume is symbolic, whereas i was voted into this office as a citizen
of iceland. The point i was making is that i was the men’s equal,”
she says with conviction. “i always knew that the color blue suited
me well, but more importantly i knew it would allow me to stand
out from the men in their black and white tails.”
The epitome of intelligence, beauty and grace, vigdís
Finnbogadóttir charmed the nation—and the entire world—
throughout her 16 successful years as president of iceland. A
renowned academic with degrees in literature, drama, educa-
tion and languages, during her presidency she campaigned for
the preservation of the icelandic language, culture and nature.
despite being in her mid-80s, she is still going strong; a patron of
various charities and organizations and active with the university
of iceland’s institute of Foreign languages, which bears her
name. Today, she has kindly taken time from her busy schedule
to reminisce about the presidency, a few of her most iconic
outfits and the true significance of her wardrobe.
“i welcomed the idea of this retrospective,” she says with
her signature charismatic smile. “i had kept my entire presi-
dential wardrobe, and my daughter ástríður, who is one of
the curators, knew the stories behind them all. every piece
of clothing exhibited here brings back fond memories from
my presidency; there is nothing but positivity in this room.
Although this is a first in iceland, exhibitions of this kind are
held all over the world. After all, clothing is a reflection of a
given age. Actually, this exhibition is just as relevant to men
as it is to women—it’s about so much more than the dresses.
it’s about history.”
A Historic LittLe BAg
Sitting in the exhibition gallery of the Museum of design and
Applied Arts, we are surrounded by exquisite dresses and suits
in various colors by the world’s leading fashion houses, acces-
sories and honorary medals. What catches her eye however is
a chocolate brown leather purse in the shape of an envelope.
“There’s my speech purse,” she says. “There is history in
In 1980, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir became the world’s first woman to be
elected head of state. A new exhibition of her presidential wardrobe high-
lights her impeccable style, combining fashion and tradition, protocol and
a personal touch; a style that allowed her voice to be heard.
By ÁSta andréSdóttir
PHoToS By PÁll StEfÁnSSon and coURTESy oF tHE MuSEuM of dESiGn and aPPliEd artS