A chador (Persian چادر) is an outer garment worn by women; it is one possible way in which a Muslim woman may follow the ħijāb dress code. It is a traditional Iranian garment, mostly used by practicing Muslim women in urban or rural Iran.

A chador is a full-length semi-circle of fabric open down the front. A chador has no hand openings or closures but is held shut by the hands or teeth or by wrapping the ends around the waist.

Traditionally, black was eschewed for its connotations of death and funerals and white or printed fabrics were preferred. Now, except for rural elderly women, black is the universal color for a chador.

Traditionally, a chador was worn with a headscarf (rusæri), blouse (pirhan) and skirt (doman) or skirt over pants (shælvar). After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the chador began to be worn over a headscarf (pulled over khemar mæghne or 'rusæri) and a long overcoat (jilbab or manteau) became popular for total coverage.

See also

• Burqa
• Khimar

Islamic dress (female) | Iranian clothing | Pakistani clothing | Afghan clothing | Indian clothing

Chador | Tschador | Chador | Chador | Czador | Čador