Fighting On The Fashion Front In Iran

Shopping With Tehran Women Reveals Subtle Political Forces That Dictate Street Style

(CBS)  In Iran, spring fashion season brings the spring fashion crackdown: special police operations to enforce the Islamic dress code.

This year, with hardliners in power, it is the harshest in years, CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports. So much so that outraged bystanders used a cell phone to film a young woman being arrested and stuffed into a police car for so-called immodest dress.

"I won't go," she screams. "Let go, you filthy pig."

Many Iranian women remain defiant, and in the mountains north of Tehran, where the authorities don't venture, the daring do ... showing off bare ankles, lots of hair and distinctly un-Islamic hats.

Tehran women keep a weather eye on a store window as a kind of political barometer. As soon as there's a crackdown coming, the bright colors disappear and hemlines drop.

When the regime talks tough, the tough go shopping.

Palmer took a group of women to a Tehran mall to see where they draw the lines these days.

A manteau is the outer garment that has, for many, replaced the coverall chador.

"This is long — the length is good and it covers all of your body," a woman named Afsaneh explains.

But other fashions are arrestable offenses.

"You cannot wear this kind of shoes," she points to a pair of open-toed sandals. "Oh my God, yes, nail polish is forbidden."

And a dress that would be drop-dead chic at a party would be a drop-dead offense in public.

Palmer says as a Western reporter in Iran, she has to play it safe by wearing the most basic of black.

Would the Iranians wear what she does?

"Oh God. Sorry, this is ugly," one tells her.

If this seems all style and no substance, that may be the point. The new regime is betting that women battling for freedom on the fashion front will have less energy for any larger, political fight.

[michellem99-2009]

I feel for ladies who have to live in fear. I watched the story and notced a male dressed in jeans. I really felt for the lady dragged into a cop car. Is it fine for the men in Iran to wear what they please and ladies not.The ladies dressed I feel look becoming but they don't show skin and they are covered. It is a fact we have hair. Their head was cavered and colours should not matter. The black garment and head cover look to hot to wear. I know nothing about her life there . This is 07.

[xsoldier2]

Why did Polsie have to make a political statement at the expense of our soldiers? They could have compromised on the war founding bill and had it passed, instead of using it as a political statement. They don%u2019t really want to end the war and know it is not wise to do so. If they really wanted to end it all they have to do is not fund it. Uneducated Americans are buying off on their antics, with slogans and accusations that are unfounded and go no where. The uneducated thank it means something. What we all should is stop the hatred and pull together to defeat the terrorist. They will not stop until we do. They will terrorize us until we submit to their way, which many has already done so.

[alirezaf]

Going home every night in Tehran, I watch women (and sometimes men) being arrested and hauled into police vans. And I watch the terrified looks on the faces of young girls and older women. I am ashamed and enraged to be living in a country where the most basic human rights are violated.
For your information the crackdown is officially called "Increasing Social Security Plan"!

[farmerbb]

One tactic used when you study debating is to force the teams to switch sides just before the debate starts. Try it here - if radical Muslim men claim that Muslim women are treated equally, have the MEN wear the full length garments for 500 years. That has the additional benefit of hiding those *** whiskers and muscular arms from Muslim women, so they are not overcome with lust and attack the Muslim men.

[renwoman1]

My understanding is that such dress is not in the Koran but actually started as a way to protect the woman's skin from the sun. Over time, fanatic clerics used this as a way to subjugate women and maintain their control. The men agreed with this because it gave them more control in their homes. I sincerely hope these women can eventually loosen the grip of these overbearing, power-hungry clerics and bring the situation back to what the true Koran says things should be.

[rainyday9]

I keep hearing Muslim women speak about how they are treated as equals, and are very happy. Are these restrictions Muslim or Iranian? How confusing, and how sad!

[sevenveils]

Shallow minds have shallow eyes. Shallow eyes do not see that women even in Iran see they are equal to men. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Free the women of Iran.