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General Tips Of Selecting Funeral Visitation Attire
At one time, all mourners were expected to wear formal black dress, complete with hats, ties, veils and gloves. Nowadays the rules have become somewhat more relaxed due to the many cultural, religious and personal influences on burial arrangements. For times when no special requests have been made, there are guidelines for appropriate funeral attire.
The traditional dark suit and tie, or little black dress are still safe bets. The styles are now leaning towards the semi-formal. Though the more casual designs are being accepted, they are still expected to be of darker colors such as dark blue and gray.
Men may continue to wear the traditional suit and tie, or they have the option to go with casual slacks paired with a collard shirt and sports coat. Black dress shoes are expected for all options. The primary rule is to keep things conservative, foregoing bold patterns, wearing light colored shirts with dark ties, jackets and pants.
Women should wear conservative office style dresses, skirts or suits in the darker colors. Avoid necklines that are low, hems that are high and patterns and design elements that are flashy as these elements tend to draw attention which is inappropriate for such an occasion. Flat shoes may be substituted for heels, especially for outdoor services.
Children have less strict guidelines to follow. Boys can opt for suits, dress slacks and collared shirts, or even sweater vests while the girls should wear dresses without excessive ruffles or bold, colorful patterns. The youngsters clothing does not have to be black, though it should be of dark or neutral tones with a minimum amount of adornment.
The guidelines for acceptable funeral attire are good to fall back on when one is unsure of what to do, but keep in mind there will be times when these rules will not apply. A lot of religious sect and cultural groups have their own mourning garb traditions which guests should observe as a matter of respect. If the deceased specifically requested a particular dress code for their services, honoring their final wishes should take priority over tradition.
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