Girls
in hejab browse in front of this trendy shoe store.
It
might seem the hejab doesn't leave much room
for creativity — but it does. Click through
a slideshow
of current Iranian fashion.
Iranian women believe that the Western world's image of them
is distorted. And it is. A lot of that has to do with the
costume. The typical Iranian city woman is educated, resourceful,
good-humored and often very fashionable, but all of this is
hidden underneath her hejab — which, literally
means "curtain." Hejab, also called "the veil," ranges from
the full chador — all black from head to toe,
black stockings, black shoes, no hair showing — to what
many would call bad-hejab, that is, slipping head
scarf, bare feet in sandles, toenail polish, conspicuous make-up,
short coat — fashion as political statement.
There are many women in Iran who believe that the modesty
represented by the chador is not only required by Islam, but
also that it helps them attain respect and value for themselves,
because they're not judged first by their appearance.
There are other good Muslim women who believe that their
faith does not dictate they dress with discomfort and severity.
The rules have flip-flopped: there was a time, beginning in
1935 under Reza Shah, when wearing traditional dress (the
chador), was punishable by a prison term. On the other hand,
a few short years ago, bad-hejab could get you arrested and
punished by lashing.
So what's a girl to do?
Take
a look at what they are doing in our "fashion"
slideshow on Iran.
