---
node: fashion_qajar
type: fashion
slug: qajar_iran_fashion
title: "Fashion in Qajar Iran"
lead: "Qajar Iran is known for a distinctive court style: men in a tall black lambskin hat (the kolah) and a long robe, and court women in a short skirt (the shaliteh) inspired by European ballet."
published: 2026-07-28
updated: 2026-07-28
image_file: qajar_iran_fashion.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portraet-af-Fath-Ali-Shah-Qajar.jpg"
image_author: "Ahmad (attrib.) — portrait of Fath-Ali Shah, 1811"
image_license: "Public domain"
change: "Created as a fashion sub-page under the history section, with a period image (iran region)"
requester: internal
reason: "Per the owner's decision, fashion lives under each history era"
---

## Overview

In this age when realistic portraiture developed, court dress was vividly recorded.

## Key garments and style

Men belted a long robe, wore a tall black lambskin hat and kept a beard. Under Naser al-Din Shah, a short, full skirt (the shaliteh), inspired by European ballet, became fashionable among court women. Painters such as Kamal-ol-Molk record the look.

## Transition

With the Pahlavi dynasty, Westernising dress reforms changed this dress sharply.