What to Wear To A Funeral

There might be a lot of things running through your mind when you’re about to go to a funeral and the last thing you want is to be worried about how to dress. What you should wear to a funeral is becoming less dogmatic as time goes on - gone are the days that everyone shows up to a funeral wearing a dark suit or a dark blouse with a long skirt. That said, there are some tips that will help you dress appropriately for almost any funeral. Remember that these tips are generic; certain cultures might have different dress codes and funerals with a focus on celebration may be a bit looser in terms of the colour palettes you can wear. You can always ask someone what’s appropriate if you feel comfortable to or even contact the funeral director. Failing that, follow these tips and you should be fine:

The most important tip when it comes to dressing for a funeral is to dress conservatively. Imagine you’re dressing for a job interview but lose the statement pieces and opt for dark colours. Don’t wear anything revealing or anything with slogans on it. Avoid t-shirts, jeans, running shoes, and the like. Having a blazer or suit jacket is never a bad idea. Pantsuits, long skirts, and dress pants work well, too. The rule here is that you never really want to bring attention to yourself so dress tastefully and don’t dress to get compliments on your outfit. Remember the focus is a funeral.

Even at funerals where there’s less of a focus on formal garb, opting for something tasteful and subdued is usually a very good idea. Conservative dress means that any time you ask yourself “is this too much?”, it probably is. Scale your outfit back if you’re not sure. What’s more, if you’re unsure of how formal you should be dressing, opt for more formal than not; it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. Funerals are, among other things, about showing respect - to the deceased, to their family, and to the human experience. Show that you care enough about these things by putting thought and planning into your appearance.

What you’ll wear may vary somewhat depending on the season. That said, even in the sweltering heat, avoid wearing shorts and opt instead for breathable pants. In the wintertime, there are plenty of formal coat options you can find, including dark wool coats. For comfort, it may be a good idea to wear pants instead of a skirt in the winter.

Should you have any more questions about funeral attire or if you have questions about what to wear for a particular ceremony, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We strive to offer more than just cremation in Winnipeg; we want to be a resource for anyone who is coping with death.