what should i wear to a funeral visitation

Concluding Updated on March 21, 2022

Let's talk about what to habiliment to a funeral.

Expectations can vary: At a more than formal, traditional funeral, you may be expected to vesture blackness dress clothes (buttoned suit for men, dress for women). For many funerals the simply requirement is that you habiliment something nice in darker colors.

Traditional, high-profile, upper class, or more "formal" families volition expect you to dress in traditional funeral attire. For others, there is may exist no expectation of dress at all, and for some non-traditional funerals (perhaps a "celebration of life" or a funeral for a cosplay enthusiast) you may be expected to dress in brilliant, celebratory colors or even in a superhero outfit. Nosotros'll talk almost each of these in plough below.

However, nigh people at virtually funerals want to pay their respects to the deceased and the family by dressing in a way that communicates sympathy and mourning, and then you volition be best served following our general collection of tips, guidelines, and ideas for what to article of clothing to a funeral.

This guide on what to wear at a funeral is ideal for contemporary Western culture; other cultures may differ and vary considerably. Fifty-fifty inside modern Western civilization, there is quite a fleck of variation then please go along in heed the civilization and traditions of the decedent's family, region, heritage, and/or religion.

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Contents

1. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR FUNERAL OUTFITS
   • 12 tips to assist you decide what to wear
   • Proper colors to wear to a funeral
2. WHAT TO WEAR TO A FUNERAL: WOMEN
3. WHAT TO Vesture TO A FUNERAL: MEN
4. DRESSING FOR THE SEASONS
   • What to clothing to a funeral in summertime
   • What to vesture to a funeral in winter
5. TRADITIONAL & Non-TRADITIONAL SERVICES
   • Funeral attire
   • Wake, viewing, or visitation attire
   • Memorial service attire
   • Commemoration of life attire
   • What to wearable to a funeral that is not black
6. EXAMPLES & FUNERAL OUTFIT IDEAS
   • Funeral outfit ideas for women
   • Funeral outfit ideas for men

1. What to Wear to a Funeral: Full general Guidelines

12 easy tips for everyone

1. Black is a traditional color and is ever appropriate
2. Not-black clothing is generally acceptable, as long as it isn't brightly colored
3. Shirts/dresses should comprehend up to the cervix; no open collars
4. Pants/dresses should cover the knees; no shorts or miniskirts
5. Avert flip-flops or athletic shoes
6. In a casual setting, t-shirts may be appropriate – but avoid wild prints, logos, etc
7. Go along a formal jacket on hand; this basic addition can assist make many outfits passable!
8. Wear subdued style and colors; you lot practice not want to attract attention away from the deceased
9. Dress as you would for church or a job interview
10. Revealing attire is by and large not appropriate; many traditions crave shoulders and knees covered
11. Exist considerate of whatever religious setting; i.e., some require hats for women and/or men
12. For data on funeral traditions of unlike religions, run across here

Proper colors to clothing to a funeral

• Black is always the ideal; traditional, formal, or casual, you volition never look out of identify in blackness at a funeral
• Nighttime grays and deep dejection are likewise highly appropriate, especially with accents and accessories
• Brown shades, lighter grays, and other earthy colors are acceptable for well-nigh funeral services
• Avert bright colors such as pinks, yellows, oranges, and reds
• White is acceptable for jewelry, accents, and shirts worn nether darker colors (i.e. a white dress shirt with suit and tie)

2. What to Wear at a Funeral: Women

Basic tips for women:

• Dark dresses or suits are e'er appropriate
• Continue shoulders covered
• Skirts/dresses should reach the knees
• Tasteful color accents can be acceptable
• Avoid bright sunday dresses
• Avoid anything overly revealing

Basic funeral outfit ideas for women

• Skirt suit
• Pant suit
• Wearing apparel
• Skirt and blouse
• Skirt and sweater
• Pants and meridian with sleeves

More than outfit ideas hither.

For women attention a funeral, the traditional dress lawmaking has long been a modest black apparel or a black concern wearing apparel conform.

Merely again, with the irresolute times, less strictly formal attire has become adequate to wear to a funeral. While you will by and large want to wear respectful, non-attention-grabbing outfits, y'all will be fine with a bourgeois selection of brighter or lighter colors, business organisation-casual options, pocket-size dresses, and variations of skirts, blouses, and pants.

When in dubiousness – especially if y'all are unfamiliar with the family or service location – yous should opt for the more bourgeois and more traditional options. Of all occasions in life, information technology is best to come to a funeral overdressed rather than underdressed.

3. What to Wear at a Funeral: Men

Bones tips for men:

• Night suits or buttoned shirts are always appropriate
• Long-sleeved shirts, something with a collar
• Belt with tucked-in shirt
• Wearing apparel shoes or loafers
• Avoid: sneakers, athletic shoes, flip flops
• Consider avoiding: jeans (though in many settings, night jeans with tucked in shirt is acceptable)
• Avoid: shorts
• Avoid: baseball caps

Basic funeral outfit ideas for men:

• Dress adjust with necktie
• Polo shirt, slacks, belt
• Button-downwards shirt, tie, slacks, belt
• Push-down shirt, belong, slacks (or dark jeans), belt
• Any of the in a higher place with blazer

More than outfit ideas here.

The traditional dress code for men at a funeral has long been a suit in darker colors (black, grey, or dark blue) with the customary collared clothes shirt and tie.

Nonetheless, with the changing times, this traditional attire is no longer an absolute requirement. Instead, it is acceptable to clothing something along the lines of "business organisation casual" or "Sunday best." Use your judgment, merely information technology is more often than not sufficient to clothing slacks in any color along with a collared shirt. This can be a dress shirt minus the tie or even a golf or polo shirt. Keep the colors subdued, just adequate funeral attire is no longer express to only the darkest colors.

If you are unsure or non quite as familiar with the family unit or location, you should play it safe and go with the more bourgeois options. It is better to dress in more traditional funeral attire than to arrive underdressed.

4. Dressing for the Seasons

What to wear at a funeral in summer

When attention a summer funeral, consider the location outset. If you are going to be office of an outdoor service you will certainly want to come prepared for the lord's day and heat.

Bring sunglasses and an umbrella. The glasses should preferably be unproblematic and black rather than a cheery "summer fun" mode. The umbrella will preferably be black, only most styles and designs should ultimately be adequate if needed.

Keep your clothing lightweight and endeavour not to exercise too many layers. Choose fabrics that are lighter and airy, such as cottons and linens. Avoid nylon, polyester, or other synthetic clothing that will trap in heat and sweat. Also stay away from shorts and flip flops; dressy or nicer strapped sandals are adequate.

For women , choose a light and comfy dress, or a human knee-length skirt with light blouse. Curt sleeved shirts are acceptable, just attempt to stay away from tops that reveal too much of the shoulders or chest. Avoid spaghetti straps, too-tight wear, and miniskirts. Wear black, grayness, or dark bluish if possible, but most contemporary funerals let a wider range of color as long as it is not too ostentatious.

For men , do not wear shorts or denim. Rather, stick to lightweight slacks or dress pants. Pair it with a collared shirt such as a push button-up or a polo shirt. Avoid Hawaiian or other brightly colored shirts. While lighter colors are acceptable, notably khaki slacks, it is advisable to wearable a darker apparel or polo shirt as this helps keep the outfit's tone somber and may help hide any sweat from the oestrus. Dress shoes, loafers, or dark sneakers should be acceptable, just be sure to clothing night socks with them.

For children , they should by and large follow the lead of their parents. Shorts are adequate, particularly when there volition be heat or sunshine, simply pair them with nice shoes and avoid sandals.

What to wear at a funeral in wintertime

If the funeral will be in the cold of winter, choose your outerwear advisedly. The same dress codes use to a funeral in wintertime, but y'all will want to add a glaze forth with accessories such as gloves, scarves, and hats. Bring a black umbrella for outdoor events.

For women, you will never go wrong with a classic wool coat in dark or moderate colors. Winter green, night blues, browns, and plaids are likewise typically acceptable for your outerwear. Choose good rain boots for a burying or outdoor funeral. Fifty-fifty if indoor, avoid open-toed shoes or sandals of any type. Accessories can include warm gloves, a scarf, and hats or other head coverings. Autonomously from outerwear and accessories, stick to the full general guidelines for women's funeral attire.

For men , this is why it is important to take a skillful-quality black wool coat. Accessorize with a dark scarf and warm gloves. Wear thick, night wool socks. A blackness or grey beanie is acceptable, simply a classic fedora is preferred. Choose pelting boots for an outdoor burial service and your normal winter footwear for an indoor service. Aside from outerwear and accessories, follow the rest of the tips for men's funeral attire.

For children, again, follow the lead of the parents. Winter jackets in well-nigh colors volition be adequate, as volition about rain boots. If possible, try to stay away from bright colors in accessories, just most people will understand when it is not possible to purchase an entirely new winter wardrobe for your children.

5. Traditional and Non-Traditional Services

A funeral is the traditional term for a service with the body present, while a memorial service honors the decedent when the body is not nowadays. Sometimes when the person has been cremated either term can be used.

When you lot are attending the literal burying , the service is traditionally known every bit a committal service but tin can likewise be called a graveside ceremony, graveside service, burial service, or simply a "burying." Most often this takes place immediately after a funeral service and thus the apparel code for one is identical to the other.

The term "celebration of life" has come into vogue in recent years, and the idea is to celebrate the life of the decedent as opposed to mourning their expiry. If this term is used, expect the service to be more casual with perhaps unique, creative, and alternative ceremonies and celebrations happening.

For more than on the difference betwixt these terms, see our article here.

What to habiliment to a funeral

When attending a funeral , it is important to wearing apparel respectfully to honor both the decedent (whose trunk is present) and the grieving family.

Since the trunk will be buried or cremated sometime later the service, past necessity it volition need to take place soon subsequently the death. This means that the grief of family unit and friends will be recent and raw.

All the more reason, then, to cull funeral outfits according the more than traditional, formal, and conservative guidelines detailed above. This is a way for yous to pay your respects to the departed and their family.

What to article of clothing to a wake, viewing, or visitation

A wake is an open-catafalque viewing of the body and tin can likewise be called but a viewing . More than accurately, a wake is traditionally a Catholic ceremony but the term has been used more loosely in recent years. A visitation is a similar event but without the body present.

The wake, viewing, or visitation is a gathering for close friends and family to express condolences, share grief, and merely exist together. If you are invited to ane of these events it is a loftier honor.

When attending, follow the same guidelines as detailed above for funerals. Expectations for attire can range from highly formal to dressy-casual. If you are already familiar with the family unit you will be aware of their style and sensibilities, and then dress accordingly.

On the other hand, if y'all are non very familiar with the family unit then information technology is ever best to be rubber and dress in more formal attire. Black or gray dresses and suits will always be appropriate.

What to clothing to a memorial service

A memorial service is typically held without the trunk present. This can happen due to a diversity of reasons, but in many cases the memorial service tin happen several weeks or even months later the person has died.

As such, a memorial service can sometimes be a little less formal than a funeral. The aforementioned guidelines for apparel at a funeral are typically followed, only a memorial service tin lean a few degrees more casual and informal. At a minimum, you should apparel in nice clothing, in subdued colors, and follow the dressy-casual outfits worn to a job interview or church.

When in dubiety, err on the side of more than formal and more traditional.

What to wear to a celebration of life

When you see the phrase " celebration of life " and and a complete absence of funeral, memorial service, committal, etc, then you will well-nigh likely be attending a more casual thing. These can range in tone from a lighthearted memorial service to a full-on political party with bands, dancing, drinking, and more.

You will nevertheless want to dress respectfully and appropriately, and still continue in mind the culture and values of the family, just you lot are fairly condom to presume that a smart-but-casual outfit volition exist adequate.

Clothing to wear to a funeral that is not black

There are many funerals and memorial services where black wear is not required. You tin can still vesture blackness to those occasions (unless it is a "celebration of life" or similar event where you are specifically askednotto wear blackness).

If you are not wearing black to a funeral, information technology is best to stick with darker colors, especially in earth tones. Grayness in nearly all shades and dark blues are highly appropriate. Bated from these mainstay colors, here is a palette of clothing colors to wear to a funeral that are not black:

6. Examples and Funeral Outfit Ideas

Funeral outfit ideas for women

Here nosotros have a simple, modern black wearing apparel with black boots and warm chapeau, with appropriate splashes of color in the accessories:

Iii variations on the gimmicky genu-length black dress, with complimenting shoes and bags. Note that the style of these funeral outfits is airy and attractive, withal the shoulders are covered and the necklines are appropriate for the occasion:

Here is an outfit designed for an outdoor funeral service. The hat and umbrella are a good idea for colder weather condition, the the light dress works perfectly with the pea glaze. Add gloves to warm the hands, and the jewelry adds an antique sensibility appropriate for a traditional funeral.

Here we take an example of advisable withal stylish funeral attire in varied colors. The vintage style is a tribute to restraint rather than backlog, with muted dark-brown and navy blueish tones.

The "little black dress" is a funeral staple, for adept reason. A archetype expect, ever appropriate, perfectly accessorized with unproblematic necklace and earrings.

Here is a more contemporary professional look, an instance of the ideal brim and blouse combo:

The elementary black dress tin can always exist accented with a bit of muted color, like the tan shawl and heels in this funeral outfit:

Footling Miss Funeral is a blog run by a young funeral professional who loves fashion. Lots of great ideas for what to wear at a funeral, peculiarly if yous will be attention in a working/professional capacity. Here is the fourth dimension-honored black glaze with scarf, black apparel and tights, with fur-lined heeled boots:

And here is a "casual dressy" look which utilizes a low-cal gray cotton wool dress, black tights, and black shoes:

If you lot know the occasion will have something of  a contemporary-casual feel, here is a good look that bridges the gap between dressy and casual. The darker colors aid retain a sense of solemnity, while the floral patterned dress and green sweater provide a comfortable yet conservative look.

If you need to make jeans work, choose a darker pair and be sure to emphasis them with dressy neutral or earth tones, like the outfit here:

Shopping resource:

• Dresses: Amazon, Macy's, Lulus, ASOS
• Shoes: Go Jane, Zappos, Heels, Designer Shoe Warehouse, Overstock
• Handbags: Bloomingdales, Tradesy, The Real Deal (authentic gently used items)
• Accessories: Forever21, Amazon, Buckle, DSW</li>

Funeral outfit ideas for men

Starting off with the classic look of the traditional black adapt and tie:

Hither is the traditional expect with a trivial modern flair thrown in past substituting a black shirt:

If you don't have a formal blackness suit available, the next all-time selection is the suit you dohave. Beneath is a classy charcoal conform with gray shirt and tie:

If you don't have a suit, get with the archetype, fourth dimension-honored dress shirt and tie. Once again, stick with darker colors, black pants if at all possible:

Now we'll go into some dressy casual looks which will be appropriate for most funerals. Here is a dainty combination of black chinos, a charcoal blazer, and wearing apparel shirt:

If you lot'd like to make jeans piece of work for attention a funeral or memorial service, endeavour to class information technology up as much as possible. Here the jeans are night, and balanced nicely with a sweater and tie:

For nearly contemporary funerals here in the U.s.a., a respectful casual look will not look out of place. Khakis or clothes pants paired with a collared shirt and sweater is a good standard:

Or, for warmer climes, go with a belong instead of the sweater. You tin go with or without the tie; only with is definitely the superior option:

Thanks for reading our guide on what to wearable to a funeral. If y'all have any additional tips, insights, or suggestions, feel gratis to add together them in the comments beneath.

Read side by side: Funeral Etiquette (A Brief Guide on What to Say & Practise)

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