By Vania Raebel | October 7, 2019
No Ties Allowed
When you’re in Iran, don’t expect to see anyone wearing a necktie to a job interview, wedding, or any other formal occasion. The same goes for bowties, too. Ties aren’t exactly illegal, but they are seen by many as a Western symbol and are largely frowned upon under Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.
Ties were much more common in Iran before the 1979 revolution. When the monarchy was overthrown and the religious clerics took over, people were told to wear Islamic garments, which are believed to remove ethnic and class distinctions. Neckties and bowties were seen as “un-Islamic” symbols of the “oppressive West.” Women, meanwhile, were told to wear hijab. To this day, all women and girls must wear one in public, starting from the age of nine.
