Iranians Embrace Underground Fashion Shows

Under the nose of Iran's fundamentalist Islamic government, Western standards and customs are gaining ground. From satellite dishes to hip-hop parties to screenings of banned films, temptations abound. The LA Times goes behind the scenes of a fashion show in Tehran, where women and men mix freely and models flash plentiful skin.

Sadaf, the designer, rented out an acquaintance's basement and flew in four of the six models. One described herself as "a little terrified," but the show went on, to a warm reception from an enthusiastic crowd. The mullahs, presumably, were none the wiser. Said Azita, a designer in the audience: "We love it so much because the clerics hate it." (More Iran stories.)