|
Top Tips For Finding Funeral Attire Etiquette
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.
For men, a full suit and tie ensemble is traditional, though the more casual slacks, sport coat and collared golf shirt combination is also acceptable. The main thing is to keep it conservative and always wear black dress shoes. Pant, jacket and tie colors should remain dark with patterns being subdued or not at all.
Women may wear office worthy slacks and dresses in dark colors and conservative styles. The primary rule is not to choose something with a low neckline, high hemline, flashy patterns or bare shoulders because one should not draw attention to herself at these events. Heels are still appropriate though if attending a graveside service, flats may be more comfortable.
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 traditional basics of funeral attire are always a safe guideline though there will be times when this is not the norm. Many religions and cultural groups have their own expectations as to how mourners should dress, and personalized instructions from the deceased may also change the rules. In those situations, the special style requests should be followed as a show of final respects.
|
|
