καιρός remembered

Victory Red

Nowhere else have I seen such importance attached to bright red lips as in Iran. Perhaps it is in honour of the 14th-century poet Hafiz, who remains hugely popular in Iran and who never tired of extolling the red colour of wine, roses and his lovers’ lips in his odes.
But under the rule of the mullahs, times have changed. So perhaps there is another reason behind all those painted lips. Since a woman’s face – apart from her hands – is the only part of her body she is allowed to show in public, she enjoys expressing her femininity through a sensual red mouth. Perhaps not only to attract the attention of others, but also as a subtle sign of protest.

Photo of the week: Restaurant counter girl, Yazd, Iran 2017