What To Wear To A Funeral?
The appropriate dress for a funeral is going to vary by what your relationship is to the deceased. If you’re close to the family, then express this closeness with dark colours and conservative attire. Dress lighter or wear brighter colours if you are further from the family of the deceased.
If you know that tradition calls for formal dress at an eastern European Jewish funeral, make sure to check first what the traditions of different kinds of funerals are in case they call for more casual attire.
In general, it’s a good idea to ask someone who knows the family well before deciding on your outfit choice for a particular funeral.
What Not To Wear To A Funeral
Baggy or overtly trendy clothing – there’s no need to be all matchy-matchy, but the same basic rules of not wearing all black or all white apply here. Also, avoid layering tank tops and wearing baggy pants if the family is known for being more traditional.
Don’t wear anything that might be considered risque such as short skirts or low-cut necklines.
What To Wear
Dark colours – if you’re close to the deceased then express your sympathy with dark colours such as black, grey, navy blue, burgundy or forest green.
Bright colours – brighten up your outfit with a cheerful colour like pink, yellow or lavender if you are further from the family of the deceased person. This isn’t necessary unless you know tradition calls for bright colours at an eastern European Jewish funeral.
Conservative clothing – avoid wearing casual or revealing clothing such as ripped jeans, tank tops and short skirts/dresses to a funeral. Even if the deceased wasn’t particularly religious, there is a time for respect. It can be considered disrespectful to wear revealing garments in a room full of people mourning a death.
Formal Clothing: Formal dresses, suits or dressy clothes should be worn for formal funerals while less formal attires should be worn for non-formal occasions.
Conservative business attire – opt for neutral colours like black and grey instead of bright colours such as red and pink if you’re unsure about how conservative the family is when it comes to clothing choices at funerals. You can also wear other dark colours such as navy blue and forest green.
Tacky, casual or novelty clothing – avoid wearing all-black outfits or anything that’s too baggy or looks like a costume. The outfit should be sombre and simple instead of flashy and showy.
Suit: Black suit, dress, blouse and accessories for formal funerals. If you’re unsure about the formality level then it’s best not to wear something too elaborate just in case—or just stick with dark colours such as grey, navy blue and forest green if you don’t want to wear entirely black.
Wearing all black is acceptable at casual funeral occasions as long as you do so tastefully—you don’t want to stand out because you’re wearing all black when everyone else is in dark colours! So avoid wearing anything too flashy unless you know the family is more relaxed about what people wear to funerals.
Grey trousers, navy blue blouse and burgundy shoes for business casual funerals. Grey flats would be fine instead of heels while grey slacks could also be worn if they’re paired with a blouse or dress shirt that isn’t navy blue.
All black is acceptable at casual funeral occasions as long as you do so tastefully—you don’t want to stand out because you’re wearing all black when everyone else is in dark colours! So avoid wearing anything too flashy unless you know the family is more relaxed about what people wear to funerals.
Grey sweater, black skirt and black shoes for business casual funerals. You can also choose other outfits such as grey pants and a nice top instead of a skirt if you prefer this option (or even khakis, chinos or corduroys).
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