Choosing what to wear to a funeral can be stressful. After all, we don’t go to funerals often enough to have a standard funeral outfit in our closet. While there is no specific dress code, ideally, you’d like your clothes to show respect as you honor the life of the deceased.
Don’t worry – you probably already have something suitable in your wardrobe somewhere. Here are some of our tips and guidelines on what to wear to a funeral:
1. Dark and Subtle Colors
Save your bright and vibrant colored outfits for other occasions. For women, avoid wearing clothes with overly floral or patterned designs as well. Dark and subtle clothing like black, grey, dark blue, or red-violet is the ideal standard for funeral attire.
2. Dress Conservatively
It’s very important to dress conservatively in a funeral, so make sure your clothing reflects that. This is not the time for a cocktail dress or your designer ripped jeans and a plain white t-shirt.
For men, a suit with an ironed white dress shirt and a dark tie to match, or a nice pair of slacks, a shirt and tie are some classic looks for the occasion. For women, a simple dress that covers your shoulders and knees that can be paired with a blazer or a nice sweater, or a business suit is all you need.
3. Wear Appropriate Jewelry
There’s nothing wrong with wearing jewelry. Just make sure not to be over the top or have your Jewelry be a distraction. A nice simple watch will do for men. Women, however, may want to wear jewelry to make them look stylish and elegant. It’s okay to pair some earrings, a bracelet and rings together, but don’t overdo it. Remember that you’re attending the service to bid farewell and pay your respects, so you might have to compromise your style.
If you can, consider wearing a piece of Jewelry that the deceased owned or had given to you to show how much you’re thinking of them. Or, if you are a family member of the deceased, another perfect way to cherish and honor them is by wearing memorial jewelry that brings a tangible remembrance of a lost loved one that you can always keep close to you. Cremation jewelry rings, for example, are constructed with a small chamber in which your loved one’s ashes are infused. You can check out cremation jewelry rings by Close by me jewelry to remind you daily of the deep connection you have shared.
4. Match Your Shoes to Your Attire
Depending on the color of your outfit, make sure to match the color of your shoes appropriately. For men, brown shoes match perfectly with blue, brown, or light grey clothing, while black shoes go best with black, dark blue, or dark grey suits. Do not forget to clean and shine your shoes before attending the funeral as well.
For women, a funeral service involves a lot of sitting, standing, and walking. Don’t even think about wearing your heels – Select shoes that you will be comfortable wearing all day.
Don’t Overthink It
Honestly, you don’t really need to feel stressed about what to wear at a funeral. What really matters is that you are making an effort to be there to honor and celebrate a life. It’s also very important to remember that planning ahead for events such as these is crucial, and preparing an estate plan is exactly what you might want to look into.