However, most people at most funerals want to pay their respects to the deceased and the family by dressing in a way that communicates sympathy and mourning, so you will be best served following our general collection of tips, guidelines, and ideas for what to wear to a funeral. Are you going to a visitation or funeral? Funerals are typically dressier occasions than visitations. If you are going to both events, you may save your suit and tie for funeral wear and wear dress pants, a dress shirt, and tie to the visitation. What is the norm in your community? A somewhat flippant response to attire and funerary events is the assumption that what you wear will clearly have no impact on the deceased, who is already gone. But how you dress will have an impact on the family of the deceased and anyone else present. Therefore, it will behoove you to dress properly. Indicates Respect for the Deceased While you do not technically have to dress up, failing to do so may be interpreted as disrespectful to the deceased. An obvious exception would be if the hosts of the event have specifically requested more casual attire.

There could be a need for accessories for your outfit, but these should be used as needed, and not for added style. This is a funeral after all. As such, a memorial service can sometimes be a little less formal than a funeral. The same guidelines for dress at a funeral are typically followed, but a memorial service may be more casual and informal. At a minimum, you should dress in nice clothing, in subdued colours, and follow the dressy-casual outfits worn to a job interview or church. If you are going to a funeral or celebration of life with a more relaxed dress code then it is best to dress for the occasion, whether it's a woodland walk or an evening of stargazing.When it comes to footwear you should wear smarter shoes, Oxford or Derby style formal shoes and not trainers. ( Read The Guide on Men’s Shoes).

If it’s cold or in the winter, a scarf could be worn. Once again it should be muted and understated, and usually dark in colour. If you are going to a celebration style funeral, it’s best to ask family and friends of the deceased what they’d like you to wear, especially as some funerals have a theme. For example, you may be asked to wear a certain colour. Children, should generally follow the lead of their parents. Shorts are acceptable, especially when there will be heat or sunshine, but pair them with nice shoes and avoid sandals.The term “celebration of life”has come into vogue in recent years, and the idea is to celebrate the life of the deceased as opposed to mourning their death. If this term is used, expect the service to be more casual with perhapsunique, creative, and alternativeceremonies and celebrations happening. It is probably a good idea to avoid clothes that are too striking or revealing, such as skirts above the knee, sleeveless tops or colourful tights, because a funeral is not an occasion to draw attention to yourself. A good guideline for what to wear to a traditional funeral is the style of clothes that you would wear to work. If you know the bereaved family well then you can probably gauge their preferences yourself. It goes without saying that you should not substitute it for a T-shirt, a button up shirt is required.

Colourful funerals or ‘ celebrations of life’ are becoming more popular in the UK, with mourners asked to wear bright, vibrant colours to reflect the life of the deceased. The golden rule for deciding what to wear to a funeral is that, regardless of the type of send-off, it is about the person who has died and their family, not you. A funeral is an occasion where you do not want people to remember what you wore. A memorial service is usually sombre and sad occasion, so you should adhere to this dress code and keep things simple and traditional, and not draw attention to yourself. Children should also dress smart to a funeral; dark and subdued colours are often preferred. Traditionally, boys should wear a smart shirt and tie with trousers and shoes, whilst girls typically wear smart dresses.Too much cologne: By all means smell nice, but don’t overdo it on the Paco Rabanne. You run the risk of making others cough, which is another distraction you want to avoid.