A Guide to Funeral Attire

Originally posted October 5, 2017 by Funeral Home Staff |

What to wear? It&rsquo;s a question everybody faces in social situations, but knowing what to wear to a funeral today can be a little tricky. There was a time when black and gray were the only acceptable options. Women wore solemn dresses or skirts and men typically wore a dark suit. According to InStyle, elaborate standards of mourning set by royalty often spread due to pictures in magazines and trends followed.

In many cultures and religions black is an outward symbol of one&rsquo;s feelings inside.

Today, however, some funerals are less traditional and many lean toward celebrations of life. So is something solemn and dark still expected or can more casual or festive attire be worn?

According to The Emily Post Institute, the wide variety of services today means everything isn&rsquo;t limited to black or dark gray. Pallbearers or those participating in the service should reflect a more conservative attire and men should wear a suit unless otherwise directed, says Post.

According to today.com funeral attire has become less formal, but darker colors such as navy and green and even mauve can be worn appropriately.

There are some who even request colorful or celebratory attire for a funeral. If you aren&rsquo;t sure, it is best to err on the side of wearing something dark and discrete.

If you aren&rsquo;t close enough to a family member to ask about attire you can also check with the funeral home to get a sense for how formal the visitation or ceremony might be.

The family and staff at Friedrich-Jones and Overman-Jones funeral homes in Naperville and Plainfield, can help families determine what might be appropriate based on the service they are planning and also can offer ways to communicate attire, if necessary.

For more information on funeral and memorial service planning, contact Friedrich-Jones Naperville at 630-355-0213 or Plainfield at 815-436-9221 or visit www.friedrichjones.com .