Introduction
Choosing what to wear at a funeral attire can be stressful. This is especially true for men who feel like they do not have anything prepared for the occasion. Also, it is not like you go to funerals all the time for you to be well aware of what to wear during the service.
There is no need to worry. You probably have something in your closet that you can wear at a funeral service. You just have to know what to look for, and you will surely have a prepared men’s funeral outfit.
Below are some tips and guidelines on how to dress in a men’s funeral attire. The pointers on what to wear are divided according to the season and service to attend.
What Should Men Wear to a Funeral?
Short Answer: The proper funeral attire for men is usually a suit. It could also be an outfit that resembles a business professional look. It can be a white dress shirt paired with a dark tie to match, and a nice pair of slacks. The outfit must also be clean and wrinkle-free.
A suit is the expected outfit choice at a funeral service, which is why every man is usually expected to have at least one dark suit in hand in case it is needed for a funeral or memorial service.
However, this dress idea has always been traditional. Now, it is acceptable to wear even business casual attire. It is enough to wear slacks with a collared shirt.
Tip: It is better to wear a traditional men’s funeral attire than to be underdressed.
Outfits
You want funeral attire with outfits, so here are some outfits:
- Classic: Black shirt, (optional) black sport coat, black plants (optional black tie)
- Classic Alternative: White shirt, (optional) black sport coat, black tie, black pants
- Classic Informal: Black shirt, black pants
- Contemporary: Black turtleneck, black pants
Navy is also an acceptable alternative, as are darker gray pants for black pants.
Bow ties are not appropriate for funerals, even if they is black.
Things To Consider
Before choosing an outfit, there are a few things to think about first. To help narrow down your choices and give you a better idea of how to dress for the funeral service, consider the following:
Relationship with the deceased. Think about the person who died. Expectedly, you will dress more formally if you are close to the deceased. If you were close to the person who died, you do not have to dress as formally. In any case, you cannot wear casual attire.
- If it is a close family member, you must dress respectfully since all eyes will probably be on you.
- For friends and extended family, you do not have to wear an all-black outfit. You can wear dark colors such as navy blue and gray.
- If the deceased is an acquaintance, wear something practical. Look for outfits that you already own and make it work as something suitable for a funeral. Even if you are not close to the deceased, you should still take note of the funeral etiquette. Meaning, you can wear bright colors.
Black isn’t always required. Although wearing black funeral attire for males is traditional, outfit choices are not limited to that color alone. Here are some colors that you can wear at a funeral aside from black:
- Dark and light shades of gray
- Navy blue
- Brown
- Earth colors
- Violet
- White
Avoid bright colors such as yellow, red, and orange.
Men’s Funeral Attire for Different Services
Because there are different types of services—such as awake, graveyard service, or memorial service—it stands to reason there might be different dress codes for each service. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Generally, you can wear what you would normally wear to a funeral for the other types of services.
However, you still have the option to dress more casually depending on the gathering. It is important to know the best attire for each of these services. Below are some of the differences:
Wake
A wake is a social gathering that takes place before or shortly after the person’s death. A wake traditionally takes place at the home of the deceased with their body present, but it can also be held at a funeral home. This gathering is where people close to the person who died gets the chance to celebrate the life of the deceased as they share memories and say goodbye.
For a wake service, men are advised to wear the same dark suit that they would wear at a funeral service. Simply follow the guidelines about what to wear for funerals.
The expectation of what to wear is along the lines of formal to business-casual attire. When in doubt, just lean on wearing more formal attire.
For an outfit idea, you can wear a:
- Black suit
- Suit with dark colors
- Black Sweater
Memorial Service
A memorial service is different from a funeral. A funeral service is the ceremony wherein the body is present and placed in a casket. In contrast, a memorial service is a gathering of mourners without the body present. Often the memorial service takes place after the body has been buried or cremated. For example, after Covid, many families hosted memorials months or years after the passing of the loved one, when health restrictions allowed for larger gatherings.
For a memorial service attire, you can dress less formally than you would in a funeral. You should still observe the appropriate dress code such as wearing dark colors, but you can wear something more casual and informal than a suit. Make sure that it is still respectful and conservative.
Think what you would wear to a job interview or a church service, but with subdued colors.
An outfit idea for a memorial service would be:
- Dress pants
- White, collared Shirt
- Black Necktie
Graveside Service
The graveside service is also known as the committal service, burial service, graveside ceremony, or simply a burial. The graveside service usually takes place right after the funeral, so the attire for both services are identical.
For a graveside service, make sure to wear comfortable shoes. There is going to be a lot of walking and standing during a graveside ceremony, so you must be prepared to wear an attire that brings comfort more than style.
What to Wear If You Don’t Have a Suit
If you do not own a traditional funeral attire, you do not need to panic. There are many alternative appropriate men’s funeral outfits that you can wear if you do not have a suit. Here are some of your options.
- Sport coat or blazer. This is a good alternative for a suit. You just have to pair it with a white dress shirt, dark necktie, and a nice pair of pants. It would be most appropriate if the sport coat and trousers are in dark colors such as black, gray, or navy blue. Wear dressy shoes that are in dark color as well.
- Button-down shirt and necktie. If you do not have a sport coat, you can just wear a button-down shirt. Make sure that your dress shirt and necktie are in dark colors. It would be better to wear a long-sleeve dress shirt than one with short sleeves.
- Dark sweater and dress pants. A sweater or turtleneck is another alternative if you do not have any of the first two outfits ideas mentioned. Your sweater must be dark-toned. Pair it with dark pants and shoes. If the weather is cold, you can layer a sweater over a button-down shirt and necktie.
Men’s Funeral Attire According to Season
You must always consider the weather and the location of the funeral, memorial service, wake, or burial.
Summer
If you will be attending a funeral service in the summer, take note of where it will be held. In case the funeral will be outdoors, you must be prepared for the heat. Here are some tips for a summer funeral:
- Do not add too many layers to your outfit. As much as possible, keep your outfit lightweight. You do not want to wear thick layers of clothing under the scorching sun.
- Choose light and airy fabrics. If you have other choices that are made of lighter fabrics such as linen and cotton, opt for that. Avoid fabrics such as nylon, polyester, or other synthetic fabrics because they are uncomfortable to wear in the heat.
- Bring sun-protective items such as umbrellas and sunglasses. The sunglasses can be simple and black. For umbrellas, a black one is preferred.
- Dress conservatively. Even if the funeral is in the summer, you are still not supposed to wear shorts, denim, and flip flops. Just wear something lightweight. You can wear a dark polo shirt. For shoes, loafers, dark sneakers, and dress shoes can be acceptable, as long as it is worn with dark socks.
Winter
For the cold season, the same dress code applies for men. You are still expected to wear a suit but you can add a few more clothing items. Just make sure that they are still appropriate as men’s funeral attire.
- Wear a coat. You can wear a thick coat over your standard men’s funeral outfit. If possible—and this is one of the easiest places to feel like you’ve made a mistake—make sure your coat is not brightly colored. A black wool coat would go well for men’s funeral attire in the winter.
- Wear accessories. You can wear accessories that help against cold temperatures such as gloves, scarves, and hats. Just make sure that they are in dark colors. Bring a black umbrella as well.
- Wear black rain boots for outdoor services. For services held outdoors such as the burial, you can wear rain boots. For the indoor service, you can just wear your usual winter footwear.
In the Rain
In case you are expecting it to rain and the service will be held outdoors, you must be prepared to dress appropriately
- Wear a coat with rain-resistant fabric. This will help in avoiding the wetness to seep into your outfit beneath the coat.
- Wear dark rain boots. You have to wear appropriate shoes. If you will be attending a burial service, the grounds of the cemetery may be damp.
- Bring an umbrella. This is a standard to protect yourself from the rain. You may also wear a hat, such as a fedora, to further avoid wetness.
Funeral Attire for Boys
For younger boys, make sure to dress in something comfortable. Dark funeral attire is still appropriate for children, but it is not necessarily required.
- Make sure not to dress them with attention-catching outfits. Keep their funeral outfit understated and conservative.
- Shoes and socks are also better if it’s in dark colors. Ensure that the shoes are clean and do not look too worn out.
FAQ
Men’s funeral attire generally involves a suit or an outfit that resembles a business professional look. It can be a white dress shirt paired with a dark tie to match, and a nice pair of slacks. The outfit must also be clean and wrinkle-free. Wear conservative clothing in dark and neutral colors like black, gray, and navy blue. Avoid bright colors.
For men, you can wear the same dark suit that you would normally wear at a funeral service. Black sweaters and turtlenecks are other other alternatives.
Men can wear more casually in a memorial service than in a funeral. In this case, you can skip wearing a suit and opt for a dress shirt and a nice pair of pants. However, remember that you must still dress modestly, and you must dress in a dark and conservative outfit.
The graveside service usually takes place right after the funeral, so the attire for both services are just the same. However, make sure that you wear comfortable shoes during a graveside service because it usually involves a lot of walking and standing during the ceremony.
You can wear something identical to a proper funeral attire but you can lessen the layers and keep the outfit lightweight. As much as possible, choose clothing that is made of light and airy fabrics. Prepare an umbrella and a pair of sunglasses as well.
You can wear the same funeral attire that you would normally wear but you can add a black coat and some accessories to keep you warm such as gloves, scarves, and hats. Make sure that your accessories are in dark colors as well.
No. You are not required to wear black to a funeral. Other dark and neutral colors are acceptable such as gray, navy blue, and dark brown.
Conclusion
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