How to Dress for a Funeral
When a loved one has passed, the last thing you feel like thinking about is what you'll be wearing to the funeral. However, out of consideration for others and respect for the dead, you should make an effort to dress appropriately for a funeral. While the social mores of funeral attire have shifted slightly with time, there are certainly dressing dos and don’ts that must be attended to when you plan your funeral outfit. In what follows, you'll find out the right way to dress for both men and for women.
When planning your outfit, inquire into whether or not the funeral requires black dress. While wearing all black was a given for funerals in the past, some families and religions have dress codes that differ from this norm. Generally, the guideline is to dress as you would for an interview; conservatism is key. For women, items like pencil skirts, trousers and suits all will do, and a tailored jacket worn over a party dress will show great effort and make you look put together. Comparatively, men have fewer options. There's no going wrong with a simple black suit paired with a dark tie. Generally, both sexes want to avoid bright colors unless it's specified by the family of the deceased. Wear clean and polished shoes—definitely not sneakers—and you should be fine. Feel free to include elegant details like a classy pocket square, watch or necklace, but you don't want to draw too much attention to yourself. Remember, your only goal is to not stand out as underdressed; what's important is to not appear underdressed out of respect for the deceased.
