Dress code for women in Iran

It’s obligatory for women to wear hijab in public areas such as the hotel lobby, restaurants and historical monuments.

They should wear a loose sweater, tunic or Manteau, long enough to cover the lower waist. The sleeves must reach the elbows and the legs must be covered until right above the ankles. Wearing jeans, leggings, ripped jeans and loose skirts and dresses is allowed.

Women also have to cover their hair using a headscarf or shawl, which can be purchased at any market or shopping center in Iran. It’s acceptable to show the front part of your head and wear the Shawl halfway as many Iranian women do. It’s also not obligatory to cover the neck and you can wear your Shawl loosely. 

There are no restrictions regarding footwear in Iran and women can wear sandals, boots, etc.

All colors are allowed but see-through clothes must be avoided.

 

Similar to women all around the world, Iranian women enjoy wearing colorful nail polish. Wearing nail polish of all kinds and colors is normal and acceptable in Iran. In fact long nails nail extensions and polished nails are quit common between Iranian women so feel free to use nail polish during your trip to Iran.

 

The Iranian dress codes requires women to have their legs covered down until the ankles and wear loose tunics or coats that cover their lower waist and have long sleeves. Against the common myth, skinny pants and leggings are very common in Iran. Long dresses and skirts are also often worn by women during the summer and are accepted; however, they mustn’t be see-through. As for men, pants must be long and sleeveless shirts are forbidden; however,t -shirts are accepted. Note that these rules only apply for public areas.

 

Iranians appreciate the sense of fashion and thus put time and thought in choosing their clothes. Wearing colorful clothes is highly accepted and has no restrictions in Iran. Men are often seen wearing t-shirts in different colors and many Iranian women tend to improve their style by wearing colorful head scarfs and Manteaus. So as a traveler you can bring along your colorful clothes as long as they are in accordance with the rest of the dressing rules in Iran.

 

There are no restrictions regarding the footwear in Iran. Men and Women can wear any kind of footwear such as boots, high heels, sandals, etc. depending on the weather and their preferences. In fact sandals are quite popular among Iranian women during summer.

 

Manteau is a name given to overcoats that are long enough to cover the lower waist. Manteaus are the most common form of clothing among Iranian women and are usually worn over a shirt and with long pants or jeans. They are made out of different types of material to be suitable for different weathers and they come in many colors and styles. If you don’t have a long coat or tunic, you can buy a Manteau from every boutique or shopping center in Iran to wear throughout your Iran trip.

 

Many Iranian women enjoy wearing make up in their everyday life as well as for parties and gatherings. They tend to use foundation, mascara and lipstick daily and wear heavier make up including eyeliner and eyeshadow for parties or friendly gatherings. Heavy eyeliner, highlighters and vivid lipstick colors are also quite acceptable in Iran. Wearing makeup is very common among women of all ages and it’s even more normal in big cities. If you’re one to enjoy putting on makeup you can be sure that you’ll blend , so feel free to bring your makeup kit along.

 

Tattoos have become very popular in the last few decades, especially among younger people. If you have a visible tattoo there’s no need to cover it.

 

Chador is a piece of round cloth that is often black or white and is worn by women in Iran and some other countries. This Islamic garment covers the body from the top of the head to the toes, is sleeveless, and is held in place by hand or a pin.

 

Wearing Chador in Iran is not obligatory except when visiting religious places such as mosques, holy shrines, etc.. However, if you ever needed to wear a Chador or decided to try it out of curiosity, all you need to do to wear it right is holding the cloth with your hand. Chadors usually have a flexible strap that helps you hold it in place. You can also hold the front of it with your hand for more coverage. Furthermore, a Chador is usually worn over daily clothes. Note that you can borrow a Chador in religious places in case it’s obligatory to wear them. Chadors worn in holy places usually have patterns and are colorful whereas, Chadors worn by religious women by choice are black and simple. Note that most women in Iran prefer Manteau or tunic to Chador.