What to Wear in Iran

Preparing for my trip to Iran turned out to be more interesting than expected — and not just because of the itinerary.
How do you dress in a country where showing your hair in public is illegal?
Despite having done serious research, I still felt unsure about the outfits stuffed into my backpack. I crossed my fingers they’d be “decent enough” and figured I could always buy something more appropriate if necessary.

I traveled in Iran at the end of autumn. With temperatures dropping significantly, covering up didn’t feel unnatural — though your experience might be different if you visit during the warmer seasons.

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Enjoying the Iranian autumn scenery

Here’s a short and practical guide on what to wear in Iran:

MEN

As so often is the case, the dress code for men is easy: everyday streetwear, no shorts or flip-flops. That’s basically it 
Long-sleeved cotton or linen shirts work perfectly: roll up the sleeves when it’s hot, look relatively classy, and blend in with the sharp-dressed locals. Iranian men care about their appearance, and you’ll want to keep up.

WOMEN

This is where it gets a bit more complex.

HEADSCARF (hijab)

By law, women must cover their hair in public — in the hotel lobby, in restaurants, basically everywhere except in private spaces like your room or a friend’s house.
There’s no rule about color: bright, dark, neutral — anything goes.
Most women opt for pastel or dark tones, often plain or with a subtle pattern.
Tip for a noob: Avoid silk scarves; they slip like crazy. Go for cotton-based scarves — much more hijab-amateur-proof.

Note: In the cities, you’ll notice many Iranian women wear their headscarves far back, showing lots of hair — a quiet form of resistance. As a visitor, you won’t be judged as harshly, but I still recommend covering most of your hair, but if a few loose strands peek out, that will be just fine.

MANTEAU (Coat or Overcoat)
 
The manteau — a lightweight coat that covers your clothing and hides your figure — is your new best friend.
No need to panic-buy a manteau: a trench coat, loose parka, oversized cardigan or cloak will do.
The key is to make sure it’s long enough to cover your hips and bum. Tight-fitting clothing is a no-go for outer layers, but underneath your manteau, you can pretty much wear whatever you like.

Make sure to:

• Cover your legs down to the ankles (loose maxi dresses/skirts or jeans)

• Cover your arms, neckline, and body

• Tight jeans? Surprisingly acceptable — but cover up your thighs!

It feels awkward at first keeping your coat on indoors, but you do get used to it. Sort of.

SHOES AND ACCESSORIES

Open-toed sandals are tolerated, but you might feel little “naked” wearing them. Flats or sneakers are a safer—and more comfortable—  bet.
If you travel in colder seasons, bring solid flat boots.

Personal fail: Because I had no other boots in my collection and refused to purchase a new pair solely for this trip -meet a woman who owns just 3 pairs of shoes-  I ended up wearing heeled boots on cold days. And yep — they stood out.
One guy told me it was the “rich girl” look of Tehran. Couldn’t have been more wrong about me, but point taken: better to leave the heels at home.

Accessories? Minimal is best. I like adding some local bling along the way.

CHADOR

A chador is a large piece of fabric that covers your entire body head to toe. The full-body chador is only needed when visiting certain mosques. You’ll be handed one if necessary, and local women will gladly help you figure it out.

MAKE-UP

In big cities, you’ll see Iranian women rocking incredible make-up looks.
You could join in, and show up at a fast food joint with an extreme cat eye. However, I recommend keeping it low-key. Heavy make-up can attract attention — not always the good kind.

Final thoughts:

Dressing for Iran isn’t as tricky as it seems.
Top off your everyday, somewhat conservative travel clothes with a midi-length coat, wrap a scarf around your head, check yourself in the mirror, and voilà — you’re ready to step outside.

Don’t worry if you don’t manage to match the effortless chic of Iranian women — they are true masters of sophisticated style.
And if you want a little style inspiration before you go, check out a few modest fashion bloggers (even though most aren’t Persian, their outfits could fit right in).

Have you ever scratched your head while packing, not knowing exactly which clothes bring? What destination(s) were you packing for?

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