Empress Farah Pahlavi (Farah Diba)

Farah Diba (b. 1938), third wife and consort of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. Only child of Captain Sohrab Diba and his wife, Farideh Ghotbi. Was studying in Paris when she met the Shah in 1959 and married him in December of that year in Tehran, becoming Queen consort. Gave birth to a son in 1960, providing her husband with a long-awaited heir. Was Empress consort from 1967 to 1979, the year that she and the Shah escaped the Islamic Revolution, his regime on the verge of collapse. Sought refuge initially in Egypt, where the Shah died of cancer in 1980. Currently lives between Washington, D.C. and Paris.

Figure 4.1. Photographer unknown, Portrait officiel de la reine Farah Pahlavi, 1962, source: Wikimedia Commons.

1960s

Figure 4.2. Photographer unknown, Empress Farah, the Shah of Iran and First Lady Jackie Kennedy at the White House, 1962, source: Pinterest. Empress Farah is wearing the Dior dress pictured in Figure 4.3.

Figure 4.3. Attributed to Christian Dior (French), Dress worn by Empress Farah during her state visit to the United States in 1962, Royal Costume Museum of Saad Abad Cultural and Historical Complex, Tehran, source: Sadmu.

1970s

Formal-wear

Figure 4.4. Photographer unknown, Empress Farah, the Shah of Iran and the Crown Prince of Iran at a ceremony commemorating the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Persian empire, Persepolis, October 1971, source: Pinterest. The Empress can be seen wearing the ensemble pictured in Figure 4.5.

Figure 4.5. Keyvan Khosrovani, Dress belonging to Empress Farah, n.d., Niavaran Palace Complex, Tehran, source: Anjomankaraj and Otaghnews.

Figure 4.6. Photographer unknown, Portrait of Farah Pahlavi, 1970s, source: Pinterest.

Figure 4.7. Keyvan Khosrovani (Iranian), Empress Farah’s formal ensemble, 1971, brocade, Royal Costume Museum of Saad Abad Cultural and Historical Complex, Tehran, source: Aftabnews.

Figure 4.8. Photographer unknown, Portrait of Empress Farah, 1970s, source: Pinterest.

Figure 4.9. Keyvan Khosrovani (Iranian), Empress Farah’s formal dress, 1971, Royal Costume Museum of Saad Abad Cultural and Historical Complex, Tehran, source: Karnival.

Figure 4.10. Photographer unknown, The Shah of Iran, U.S. President Nixon, Empress Farah of Iran and First Lady Pat Nixon during Nixon’s state visit to Iran, 1972, source: Richard Nixon Foundation. The Empress can be seen wearing the gown in Figures 4.11 to 4.13.

Figure 4.11. Hermann Historica, “From Castles and Palaces – Selected Art and Works of Art From Antiquity to the 20th Century: Live Auction September 25, 2020, 4:00 PM CET,” lot 246, source: Hermann Historica.

Figure 4.12. Hermann Historica, “From Castles and Palaces – Selected Art and Works of Art From Antiquity to the 20th Century: Live Auction September 25, 2020, 4:00 PM CET,” lot 246, source: Hermann Historica.

Figure 4.13. Hermann Historica, “From Castles and Palaces – Selected Art and Works of Art From Antiquity to the 20th Century: Live Auction September 25, 2020, 4:00 PM CET,” lot 246, source: Hermann Historica.

Figure 4.14. Photographer unknown, Empress Farah, n.d., source: WordPress.

Figure 4.15. Keyvan Khosrovani (Iranian), Dress belonging to Empress Farah, n.d., Niavaran Palace Complex, Tehran, source: Kojaro.

Figure 4.16. Photographer unknown, Portrait of the Iranian Royal family, n.d., source: Keyvan Khosrovani. Empress Farah (who is wearing the gown in Figure 4.17) and her two daughters are attired in dresses with coordinating embroideries.

Figure 4.17. Keyvan Khosrovani (Iranian), Dress belonging to Empress Farah, n.d., Niavaran Palace Complex, Tehran, source: Otaghnews.

Figure 4.18. Maker unknown, Dress belonging to Empress Farah, n.d., Niavaran Palace Complex, Tehran, source: Otaghnews.

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