Seventy years ago, in the fall of 1955, Tehran experienced one of the most unusual and eye-catching cultural episodes of the decade—an event that merged fashion, international business, diplomacy, and media frenzy. The story of the seven French models who arrived in the Iranian capital as part of a promotional campaign for the prestigious clothing and perfume company Caron is today remembered not only for its glamour but also for the social debates it ignited. Their visit became a symbol of Iran’s rapid modernization during the final years of Mohammad Reza Shah’s early reign, a period marked by aspirations to open the country to the wider world while still grappling with its own cultural anxieties. Newspapers, magazines, and even radio broadcasts of the time carried breathless reports about the young women who suddenly brought a touch of Parisian elegance to Tehran. And at the center of the public’s curiosity was the Darband Hotel, the models’ residence, which for several weeks became the most photographed and talked-about building in the city.
