It goes without saying that you should not substitute it for a T-shirt, a button up shirt is required. Colourful funerals and celebrations of life are becoming more popular in the UK, with guests requested to wear vibrant colours to reflect the life of the deceased. Learn more about what to wear to a colourful funeral. In this article, we’ll be discussing how to dress appropriately for a funeral as a man. We will also share some tips on what not to do and some general etiquette guidelines when attending funeral services. If you are wearing a suit and it’s cold, you may want to wear an overcoat. This should keep you feeling warm and looking good and respectable. You can even add a dark scarf, if the weather dictates. Traditional, high-profile, upper class or more “formal” families will expect you to dress in traditional funeral attire. For others, there may be 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 bright, celebratory colours or even in a superhero outfit. We’ll talk about each of these in turn below.

If you are attending a religious funeral, then you may need to be aware of the customs which are followed by that particular faith. If you are unsure of the etiquette and dress code, read our articles on religious funerals. Once you learn of the death of someone whom you knew or if you discover that a relative or close friend of a co-worker or friend has died, your first step should be to write a condolence letter. Whether you intend to attend the funeral or memorial service or not, a letter is still a nice gesture. The final arbiters of what should be worn at a funeral or memorial service will always be the family or friends hosting the event. It is entirely possible that the deceased was an extremely casual person who would not want the bereaved to dress up to honor them. In such cases, the hosts will make an alternative dress code clear. If the hosts of the funerary event make an explicit request as to dress, follow it, even if its breaks conventional mourning rules. You never want to overshadow the deceased’s family by being overdressed. If no such explicit statement is made, you can feel comfortable conforming to the following guidelines. Time of Year A Chinese cemetery in summer. [Image Credit: Wikimedia] A German cemetery in winter [Image Credit: Wikimedia] When in doubt – especially if you are unfamiliar with the family or service location – you should opt for the more conservative and more traditional options. Of all occasions in life, it is best to come to a funeral overdressed rather than underdressed.A solemn event such as a funeral requires more than just looking the part. Knowing how to comport oneself and when to make exceptions to the guidelines above is hugely important. If possible, attend the service if you were close to the deceased or their family. Similarly, avoid going if your attendance will make the family uncomfortable. COVID-19 tip:If you're attending or planning a virtual funeralusing a service like GatheringUs, wear your normal funeral attire and follow the advice below. Make sure you wear something you can sit comfortably in for a couple of hours and doesn't look distracting or distorted (e.g. bright colors or busy patterns) on the computer screen. Do You Have to Wear a Tie to a Funeral? 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. In most of Europe and North America, highly ritualized mourning customs were largely discarded by the middle of the 20th century and generally assumed the scale and appearance by which they are recognized today.

When attending a funeral, it’s best to avoid clothes that will draw attention to you. A funeral is a time to pay your respects to the person who has died, so it’s important to dress appropriately. Unless the family of the deceased have stated otherwise, you should avoid wearing bright coloured or bold clothing. A funeral is not only the place to pay your last respects, it’s a place to show respect, and of course, dress respectively.Attire is an integral part of any ceremony, and it's especially important at funerals. It's an occasion where your outfit says more about your sentiment than your words. A well-chosen outfit expresses your respect, sympathy, and support for the grieving family. The tie, in this context, is not merely an accessory; it signifies your engagement and seriousness towards the mourning process. Colour Choices for Funeral Ties Traditionally, boys should wear a smart shirt and tie with trousers and shoes, whilst girls typically wear smart dresses. You should also make sure that children can easily add or remove layers depending on the weather (so they do not feel too hot or too cold).

Don’t call attention to yourself: Again, a funeral service is not about you. You want to show appropriate respect to the deceased and his/her family, and dressing in an appropriately conservative way is how to do this. Look presentable, but not sexy. You will still want to dress respectfully and appropriately, and still keep in mind the culture and values of the family, but you are fairly safe to assume that a smart-but-casual outfit will be acceptable. Try and keep jewellery and accessories to a minimum and if you are attending a graveside service, make sure the footwear you have chosen is appropriate. In some religions and cultures, women may wear hats to funerals. When it comes to shirts for a funeral, a white shirt is the traditional item to wear. This is one of the most basic pieces of clothing, so you’re sure to already have one. If the only suit you have is a navy blue pinstripe, then yes, that is what you should wear. However, pinstripes say “business,” and there should be nothing businesslike about a funeral. Solid charcoal gray is better.

In the figurative sense, clothing that’s brightly colored, patterned, or has text on it is far too loud insofar as it draws attention to itself. This is fine for date night, but not in the presence of a grieving family.