Clothes make the mullah

Wed, 05 Jan 2005 16:03:00 +0000

Women's dress in the Muslim world is endlessly debated and written about. But when it comes to what the men are wearing, we hear relatively little. And yet here in Iran it is clear that quite a few clerics are no stranger to chic. The graceful draping of good cloth, the layering of colors, the yellow slippers and the silver rings with large agate stones add up in many cases to nothing short of elegance.

If there is one major point of agreement among clerics, it lies in the importance Islam attaches -- thanks to the many stories about how well the prophet Mohammed dressed and his love of perfumes -- to looking and smelling good. Making an effort to be well turned out is not just allowed by Islam, it is positively encouraged.

In the middle-class salons of Tehran these days, one of the lighter topics of conversation is President Khatami's wardrobe. He is seen as very elegant, and in fact as a bit of a dandy. Every new outfit he dons as the seasons change unleashes a fresh round of comment about the colors, textures and shapes of the robes, high-collared shirts and mantles that he wears. After the president appeared on TV during the summer in an elegant cream-colored robe, other prominent members of the government followed suit.

Salon.com > Niloofar Haeri

Clothes make the mullah