What it means
لباس شب (lebâs-e shab) means a formal evening gown or evening dress worn to parties, ceremonies, and formal social events at night. The compound joins لباس (lebâs), which comes from the Arabic root l-b-s meaning to clothe or wear, with شب (shab), the native Persian word for night. It is important not to confuse لباس شب with لباس خواب (lebâs-e khâb), which means nightgown or sleepwear. لباس شب is strictly about formal evening fashion, the kind worn to a wedding reception or a gala, not to bed.
How to use it
- برای عروسی یه لباس شب قرمز خریدم. (barâ-ye arusi ye lebâs-e shab qermez kharidam.) “I bought a red evening gown for the wedding.”
- لباس شبش خیلی شیک بود. (lebâs shabash kheyli shik bud.) “Her evening gown was very elegant.”
- کجا میتونم یه لباس شب اجاره کنم؟ (kojâ mitunam ye lebâs-e shab ejâre konam?) “Where can I rent an evening dress?”
- دیزاینر لباس شبهای ایرانی تو دنیا معروفه. (dizâyner-e lebâs shabâ-ye irâni tu donyâ maarufe.) “Iranian evening gown designers are well known in the world.”
Cultural note
In Iran, لباس شب is a familiar term in the context of weddings, engagement parties, and formal gatherings, which remain important social occasions. Iranian fashion designers have built an international reputation for elaborate and richly embroidered evening gowns, with many clients in the Persian-speaking diaspora seeking out these pieces for major events. Inside Iran, formal dress codes at private parties and weddings mean that لباس شب remains a practical, everyday concept for many women planning for celebrations. The term appears regularly in fashion magazines, social media, and bridal boutique advertising.