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General Tips Of Choosing Funeral 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 black suit and simple dress are very much still considered the best choice. The modern version is a semi-formal look that is just slightly more relaxed. The new normal is a bit more casual and comfortable, incorporating the additional accepted colors of gray and dark blue.
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.
The rules for children are far less rigid. Generally speaking, their style should be an age appropriate version of what adult's clothing with boys in suits or a collared shirt and tie, and girls in dresses. Though the little ones are not expected to wear black, their colors should be dark or neutral with patterns and ruffles kept to a minimum.
Though the basics of appropriate funeral attire are a safe guideline, there are exceptions to the rules. Some cultures or religions have specific ways that mourners are expected to dress and those should be followed out of respect. Occasionally the deceased will have left behind special requests as to the type of clothing they would like guests to wear and final wishes always take precedence over tradition.
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