It's traditionally been conservative country where many women conform to traditional gender roles - from their family life to their strict dress code.

Yet as these extraordinary photos show, a revolution fuelled by social media and smartphones is transforming Iranian women's culture and fashion almost beyond recognition.

French photographer Eric Lafforgue, 52, travelled to the Islamic country twice in 2015 in a quest to capture how the internet is helping challenge the once-strict female dress code.

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A woman in Tehran shows off her Louis Vuitton branded phone case. The country has also seen a surge in fake designer goods, from designer iPhone cases to colourful, sequin-covered headscarves

In smaller communities, where it is easier to flaunt the rules, women are increasingly wearing bright colours

One woman sports a bandaged nose. Experimenting with make up and facial surgery, particularly nose jobs, is not uncommon in Iran, as women want to ensure their faces look unique in contrast to their modest clothing

An Iranian woman shows off her Micky Mouse jumper under her floral headscarf. According to photographer Eric Lafforgue, many women are eschewing traditional black robes in favour of more colourful fabrics

Since the revolution in 1979 when Sharia law was imposed, women have been required to cover their hair, neck and arms in order to ‘maintain their modesty.’

However, the introduction of iPhones and Instagram is influencing the younger generation to break the rules with branded chadors (traditionally a plain black cloth garment), make-up and accessories.

While most women still cover their faces during Tasu'a (a ceremony marking the ninth day of Muharram), some no longer do so during their day-to-day lives.

In smaller communities, where it is easier to flaunt the rules, women are also increasingly wearing bright colours.

There's a wide variety of accessories for women to purchase from the bazaar (pictured, in Tehran). According to Eric, Iranian authorities see the rebellion against modest dress as a serious 'cultural problem’

A range of colourful headscarves are available for women who want something different to traditional black. In smaller communities, where it is easier to flaunt the rules, women are increasingly choosing brighter colours

Times are changing: Since the revolution in 1979 when Sharia law was imposed, women have been forced to cover their hair, neck and arms to ‘maintain their modesty' - but more and more women are flaunting the rules

Eric also found that traditional gender roles were still at play. He visited one market in Tehran where street stall sellers gave women perfume samples through a long syringe, as they are forbidden from touching them

A tale of two cities: The introduction of iPhones and Instagram is influencing the younger generation to break the rules with branded chadors (traditionally a plain black cloth garment), make-up and accessories

Photojournalist Eric, who visited the country twice in 2015, has now revealed how the introduction of western cultural trends is posing a problem for the authorities.

He said: ‘I read so many things about chadors and the rules in Iran, I wanted to see the things by myself and to ask directly the people how they have to deal with this.

‘Iranians women are crazy about selfies and Instagram, so pictures are familiar to everybody.'

However, Eric also found that traditional gender roles were still at play. He visited one market in Tehran where market sellers gave women perfume samples through a long syringe, as they are forbidden from touching them.

In some religious places, guards inspect women's faces to ensure they aren't wearing too much make-up. Eric said: ‘I read so many things about chadors and the rules in Iran, I wanted to see the things by myself'

The women customise their look heavily with western-style sunglasses. Reflecting on his two visits to Iran in 2015, photographer Eric said: ‘I saw many situations where the women had problems with the religious police’

One Iranian woman eschews traditional black clothing in favour of a leopard print robe and matching headscarf as she snaps a photo on her iPhone. Eric says Iranian women are breaking boundaries of traditional fashion

Smile for the camera: The introduction of iPhones and Instagram is influencing the younger generation to break the rules with branded chadors (traditionally a plain black cloth garment), make-up and accessories

Two Iranian women sport bright, colourful clothing with cinched-in waists. Eric said: ‘In Iran, the local law makes a lot of women appear to have the same silhouette, but they invent some personal way to look different’

He added: ‘I saw many situations where the women had problems with the religious police.’ He claimed that in some religious places, guards even inspect women's faces to ensure they aren't wearing too much make-up

Experimenting with make up and undergoing facial surgery, particularly nose jobs, is not uncommon in Iran, as women want to ensure their faces look unique in contrast to their modest clothing.

The country has also seen a surge in fake designer goods, from Louis Vuitton smartphone cases to colourful, sequin-covered headscarves.

Eric said: ‘In Iran, the local law makes a lot of women appear to have the same silhouette, but they invent some personal way to look different.’

Two young Iranian women sport Louis Vuitton-inspired headscarves. The country has also seen a surge in fake designer goods, from Louis Vuitton smartphone cases to colourful, sequin-covered scarves and chadors

Social media-savvy Iranian women pose for a photo. According to Eric, the authorities see the rebellion against modest dress as ‘a cultural problem’ and consider it to be ‘a blind imitation of the vulgar culture of the west'

The authorities claim that the rebellion against modest dress ‘poses a cultural problem’ and consider it to be ‘a blind imitation of the vulgar culture of the west.

Eric revealed that thousands of police have been tasked with stopping the trend from spreading.

He said: ‘Recently, more than 70,000 policemen were sent to crack down on western cultural invasion. But they cannot look everywhere.’

According to the photographer, thousands of police have been tasked with stopping the trend of westernisation from spreading. Eric said: ‘More than 70,000 policemen were sent to crack down on western cultural invasion'