How To Dress For Funerals For Women And Men

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Day of Mourning: How to Dress for a Funeral

Sometimes life is clouded by sad events, such as the death of a loved one. Many people are so depressed on the day of the funeral that they do not even think about how to dress properly. However, there are traditions regarding clothing on this mourning day.

Christian Funeral Clothing

There are 3 principles that describe the funeral dress code: severity, modesty, conservatism. A funeral is not a fashion show, on this day it is better to give up trendy things and jewelry in favor of something more classic. Traditionally, funerals are dressed in black, but other colors are also acceptable: dark blue, gray, brown, in extreme cases, dark green is suitable. All bright colors (yellow, green, red, orange, blue), as well as defiant outfits, for example, a deep neckline or a short skirt, are prohibited. It is worth giving up outfits with sequins and rhinestones. From accessories, shawls and scarves are allowed, as well as everyday things such as watches, wedding rings, small discreet earrings.

It is customary to wear dark clothes for funerals.

How to dress a woman

A woman should come to the funeral in the most strict and closed clothes. If you choose a skirt, then it should be below the knee and not have long slits. If you want to wear pants, then do not forget that it should be either pants or black neutral jeans, preferably not very tight. A sweater or blouse should not have a large cutout. Shorts, sundresses, evening dresses, outfits with ruffles and bows are unacceptable.

Most often, women choose such outfits:

• long sleeve dress;
• short sleeve dress + jacket or jacket;
• pantsuit;
• blouse and skirt;
• sweater and trousers.

But do not forget that you can wear trousers only if you do not go to the funeral service. Otherwise, a dress or skirt is a must.

Most often, women wear a long black dress with long sleeves or a blouse with a skirt for funerals.

When choosing shoes, give up stilettos or provocative boots. Ballet flats, pumps, boots, boots will do. Come to the funeral without makeup or with a light daily routine. Hairstyle should be simple: bun, tail, braid.

An important attribute is a black scarf. The closest relatives of the deceased must cover their heads with them, the rest do it at will.

How to dress a man

The optimal outfit for a man is a suit of dark colors, and in the presence of a jacket, the shirt can be blue, gray, dark green, the main thing is not very bright and without a pattern. In warmer weather, you can opt for a dark-colored long-sleeved shirt. A short sleeve is not recommended.

If you will not be present at the funeral service in the church, then the trousers can be replaced with simple black or dark blue jeans, and the shirt and jacket with a dark-colored sweater. It is advisable to wear a tie in a calm, discreet shade and without bright patterns. When choosing shoes, stick to black shoes or, in extreme cases, black sneakers. Open shoes (sandals, flip flops) must not be worn.

For men, the best funeral outfit is a dark suit.

Weather and outfit selection

When choosing a funeral dress, you need to be guided by the weather. Do not forget that you will have to stand outside for a long time, so dress in clothes made from natural materials (cotton, linen) in summer. In the heat, ballet flats or pumps for women and moccasins for men are ideal shoes.

In winter, remember to keep yourself warm, such as wearing a T-shirt or T-shirt underneath your shirt. Outerwear should also be dark in color; you will have to refuse bright jackets. If it's raining outside, take a raincoat, raincoat or a dim umbrella with you.

Mourning clothes in other cultures

Muslim funeral dresses are very different from Christian ones. In Islam, dark colors are not accepted; rather, on the contrary, people wear loose, closed clothes in bright colors for funerals. They try not to use dark shades at all. Men come bareheaded, women must hide their hair.

The traditions of the Jews are not very different from the Christian ones, the only rule is that women are required to come in black hats without flashy jewelry.

At Jewish funerals, women are required to wear a black hat.

In Buddhism, the color of a mourning dress depends on how close you were to the deceased. Family members wear exclusively black, everyone else - white, all clothes should be closed and strict. Everyone present is tied with a white ribbon on their heads.

Even Christian traditions differ slightly. Women living in Europe and the United States (i.e., Catholics and Protestants) prefer not to wear a headscarf, as is customary in our country, but a veil that partially or completely covers their face.

What to do with clothes after a funeral

There is a superstition that immediately after the funeral, all clothes should be washed, shoes and jewelry should be washed. It is believed that the energy of death, which was present in the cemetery, penetrates into things, because of which failures and illnesses will come into a person's life. Water can wash away all evil. If you are not a superstitious person, then treat mourning clothes in the same way as with any other.

Tradition determines how a person should look at a funeral. It is recommended to wear closed dark clothes, do simple hair and makeup, and leave jewelry at home.