The name Iran today, evokes images of women covered from head to toe in hijab and burqa, of public restrictions for women, of Islamic extremism and the erstwhile Talibani regime that collapsed the very fabric of their society for some time. Today nobody remembers and very few people among the younger generation know that Iran was once an oasis of fashion in conservative Middle East. They have gorgeous women and these women experimented and styled much until the end of the 70s under the liberal rule of the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi.
Foreign cars, partying and women in short skirts is the first image that comes to mind when thinking about the Shah’s reign. It all ended once the conservative Shia revolutionary, Ayatollah Khomeni gained a toe-hold in the society. The Shah was banished to a lonely exile on charges of being an ‘American puppet’ and the women were banished into the dark confines of their homes, veiled and restrained. The 70s was the golden period for the women of Iran though, with colourful bell-bottoms, disco-dresses and dashikis. Check out these pictures of Iranian women from their golden age.
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A street scene from Tehran in 1970s
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Photo of “Forouzan” printed on the cover of «Weekly Ettelaat» magazine (1974)
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Iranian film director Ali Hatami, 3 months after his marriage to Zari Khoshkam
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This photo was printed on the cover of “Weekly Ettelaat” magazine, together with this note: “Forouzan and the latest fashion; Will people of Tehran approve it?”
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A group shot of Miss Iran finalists from the year 1968
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And then there are these glossy photographs of Iranian models, dressed in the latest trends of that time. It all goes to show that the Iranian society was once colourful, gay and fun-loving before the wave of extremism swept through.
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But the colourful society completely disappeared in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution there in 1979. This is a picture from 1979 of Iranian women protesting against the compulsory wearing of Hijab in public places in Iran.
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And here they are today, still veiled, still restricted.
