What ancient, Persian femininity taught us about power dressing
Stories shape the way we understand ourselves, and by extension, how we choose to present our bodies to the world. Within Persian mythology, women occupy a distinct space. Their power is rarely defined through dominance alone, but it is expressed through intelligence, endurance, beauty, and transformation, carried through both action and appearance. In these narratives, dress carries great meaning, by forming part of the character, part of the role, and part of the woman coming of age.
Take Gordafarid, the warrior figure within the Shahnameh. When she enters battle, she does so without abandoning her identity. Her armour holds both structure and presence, allowing her to be seen fully as she is. The image remains striking because it resists simplification. Strength and femininity exist together, expressed through silhouette, proportion, and then movement. Across Persian literature, clothing often carries a secondary function. Veils, rings, and robes appear not only as adornment, but as objects that shape perception, status and experience. They mark transition, concealment, and control.
This relationship continues to surface within contemporary fashion. References to mythology appear through form and material, through garments that command attention beyond their immediate function. Capes extend the body; metalwork introduces weight and structure. Layered silhouettes create a sense of depth and movement. Together, these elements suggest a broader understanding of strength, one that is expressed through composition rather than force. An ancient, persian femininity.
For Lilly Zar, this perspective forms part of the foundation. Clothing is approached as something that has to have meaning, contextualized through reference, construction, and intention. Each piece exists within a wider context - rooted in history but resilient enough to embrace an uncertain future. The wearer completes that process. A garment becomes active through use, through the way it is carried, interpreted, and lived with. In this sense, dressing is not separate from identity, it is part of how identity is expressed, refined, and understood.
Mythology remains present because it continues to offer a language for these ideas. It provides a framework through which strength can be seen in multiple forms, held within the body, and reflected outward through what is worn.
Within that framework, clothing does more than accompany the individual. It takes on a life-form of its own.
