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Iran before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 was quite a different country from the one we see today. It was secular, Western-oriented and allowed a fair amount of cultural freedom. After the revolution, Iran turned into an Islamic state abiding the Sharia law. This not only changed the country’s foreign relations, political climate, and economy but also the lives of common people, not to mention how it changed the women’s role in the new society.
It might seem unbelievable today, but Iranian women of the time before the Islamic Revolution also took a modern approach when it came to 70s fashion. They would dress up just like their Western counterparts and would even show some skin. These vintage magazine scans give us a rough idea of what a woman could wear at that time.
Today the dress code in Iran is way more conservative compared to the 70s women’s fashion; now, they need to cover their hair, necks, and arms. Nevertheless, Iranian women are generally stylish and tend to choose colorful outfits.
Scroll down below to check the vintage photos of Iranian ladies sporting the 70s style in the pre-revolution times.
(h/t: designyoutrust)
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What do you think ?
BjornArvidsson 9 years ago
Iran was on a good way in the 1950's but an Anglo-American coup deposed the democratically elected Prime Minister, Mosaddegh, and put their puppet Shah in his place. That was the beginning of the 1979 revolution which turned the country to more hardline Islam. As in so many countries, western oil and gas interests destroyed democracy and set up the country as we know it today. Any westerners who complain about Iran today would do well to go back and read some history; the hypocrisy and lack of education on display is sickening. The Shah who was in charge as these pics were taken was a puppet to the west, and steered the country with an iron hand; all political opposition to his affiliation with the west was destroyed, tortured or killed by his secret police. No wonder Ayatollah Khomeini was welcomed back with open arms after his exile by the Shah!
LookingtheShore 9 years ago
Khomeini was welcomed and proved to be 100 times worse than the Sha
Load More Replies...
KoolRepublica 9 years ago
Many of the photos posted here are not even of Iranian women. I see Sophia Lauren and Bridget Bardot and also photos of some foreign models who were on location in Iran when those photos were taken. What they are not telling us is MOST Iranian women NEVER dressed like that. It's like someone presenting you a pictorial in Town&Country Magazine 30 years from now and telling you this is how MOST American women used to live 2015. We can agree that would be a lie.
آناهیتا میم.ب 9 years ago
Well, do people in US dress like pictures in playboy magazines? No they dont. Its just showing how society was open. Plus many of them are iranian celebrities whom used to appear in the films just like what you see in pictures.and yeah there s no sophia lauren and bridget bardot in these pictures.
Load More Replies...
MartheOlsen 9 years ago
So happy to see this article. Most people actually think Iran has always been ruled the way it is today (although, thanks to internet and other sources of information and group formations, it is not as bad as 80s and 90s). Love these outfits, would love to have them myself!
MaciekRavs 9 years ago
Nice.I would like to believe that this can happen again. Today I was reading Declaration of new "Muslim Reform Movement" I hope that Muslims all around the world will SUPPORT it: https://www.facebook.com/Muslim-Reform-Movement-462078103964443/ Here is also Video from their press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlAnr8bIIr8 (I am not a Muslim)
LanceBoil 9 years ago
Come on. This is not how 'women' dressed in iran in the 1970s.. These are models (western and iranian) in a magazine. They reflect how women dressed in Iran as much as Victoria Secrets or Vogue reflect how women dress today. Granted some women wore pants and short sleeved shirts, but like most fashion magazines they do not depict reality but rather an aspiration. Iran is and was a deeply conservative society and there were no doubt some westernized Iranians, but the Ayatollah had a great deal of support and quite a bit of that was a backlashed against western society and ideas.
JulijaTelevičiūtė (Post author) 9 years ago
Thanks for your comment! You are right, these women are models and their outfits have more glam than a casual street look. Nevertheless, like you say yourself, back in the days the clothing styles in the streets of Iran were more relaxed than now, in fact very similar to that of Paris or London, so we believe that these photos give an idea of what was acceptable back then :) Correct us if we are wrong, it is very important to us!
Load More Replies...
Nina Sa 8 years ago
well such a free time, even best hollywood production wanted to make films in Iran and everybody was traveling there, not just queen of England or US president but also Elizabeth Tylor and mostly artists of the time! Tehran was a cultural and artistic hub
Load More Replies...
VisualMen 9 years ago
How Times Have Changed: Iran In The 60’s And 70’s http://cavemancircus.com/2012/10/04/how-times-have-changed-iran-in-the-60s-and-70s/ http://www.vintag.es/2015/01/20-color-photographs-showing-beautiful.html
VisualMen 9 years ago
MISS Iran's Cadidates in 1970s: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/459296861970811480/
Load More Replies...
zahrajamali 9 years ago
god...i wished i was born 1oo years ago life is almost sucks for a teenage in iran believe me im there
JPinto 4 years ago
Don't be silly. Hundred years ago, things were much worse.
Load More Replies... BjornArvidsson 9 years ago
Iran was on a good way in the 1950's but an Anglo-American coup deposed the democratically elected Prime Minister, Mosaddegh, and put their puppet Shah in his place. That was the beginning of the 1979 revolution which turned the country to more hardline Islam. As in so many countries, western oil and gas interests destroyed democracy and set up the country as we know it today. Any westerners who complain about Iran today would do well to go back and read some history; the hypocrisy and lack of education on display is sickening. The Shah who was in charge as these pics were taken was a puppet to the west, and steered the country with an iron hand; all political opposition to his affiliation with the west was destroyed, tortured or killed by his secret police. No wonder Ayatollah Khomeini was welcomed back with open arms after his exile by the Shah!
LookingtheShore 9 years ago
Khomeini was welcomed and proved to be 100 times worse than the Sha
Load More Replies... KoolRepublica 9 years ago
Many of the photos posted here are not even of Iranian women. I see Sophia Lauren and Bridget Bardot and also photos of some foreign models who were on location in Iran when those photos were taken. What they are not telling us is MOST Iranian women NEVER dressed like that. It's like someone presenting you a pictorial in Town&Country Magazine 30 years from now and telling you this is how MOST American women used to live 2015. We can agree that would be a lie.
آناهیتا میم.ب 9 years ago
Well, do people in US dress like pictures in playboy magazines? No they dont. Its just showing how society was open. Plus many of them are iranian celebrities whom used to appear in the films just like what you see in pictures.and yeah there s no sophia lauren and bridget bardot in these pictures.
Load More Replies... MartheOlsen 9 years ago
So happy to see this article. Most people actually think Iran has always been ruled the way it is today (although, thanks to internet and other sources of information and group formations, it is not as bad as 80s and 90s). Love these outfits, would love to have them myself!
MaciekRavs 9 years ago
Nice.I would like to believe that this can happen again. Today I was reading Declaration of new "Muslim Reform Movement" I hope that Muslims all around the world will SUPPORT it: https://www.facebook.com/Muslim-Reform-Movement-462078103964443/ Here is also Video from their press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlAnr8bIIr8 (I am not a Muslim)
LanceBoil 9 years ago
Come on. This is not how 'women' dressed in iran in the 1970s.. These are models (western and iranian) in a magazine. They reflect how women dressed in Iran as much as Victoria Secrets or Vogue reflect how women dress today. Granted some women wore pants and short sleeved shirts, but like most fashion magazines they do not depict reality but rather an aspiration. Iran is and was a deeply conservative society and there were no doubt some westernized Iranians, but the Ayatollah had a great deal of support and quite a bit of that was a backlashed against western society and ideas.
JulijaTelevičiūtė (Post author) 9 years ago
Thanks for your comment! You are right, these women are models and their outfits have more glam than a casual street look. Nevertheless, like you say yourself, back in the days the clothing styles in the streets of Iran were more relaxed than now, in fact very similar to that of Paris or London, so we believe that these photos give an idea of what was acceptable back then :) Correct us if we are wrong, it is very important to us!
Load More Replies... Nina Sa 8 years ago
well such a free time, even best hollywood production wanted to make films in Iran and everybody was traveling there, not just queen of England or US president but also Elizabeth Tylor and mostly artists of the time! Tehran was a cultural and artistic hub
Load More Replies... VisualMen 9 years ago
How Times Have Changed: Iran In The 60’s And 70’s http://cavemancircus.com/2012/10/04/how-times-have-changed-iran-in-the-60s-and-70s/ http://www.vintag.es/2015/01/20-color-photographs-showing-beautiful.html
VisualMen 9 years ago
MISS Iran's Cadidates in 1970s: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/459296861970811480/
Load More Replies... zahrajamali 9 years ago
god...i wished i was born 1oo years ago life is almost sucks for a teenage in iran believe me im there
JPinto 4 years ago
Don't be silly. Hundred years ago, things were much worse.
Load More Replies...
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