Women can choose from conservative and polished skirts, dresses, blouses, sweaters, and dresses in dark hues. In hot or humid climates, sleeveless dresses are perfectly okay, though you may want to bring a cardigan to ensure you're dressed appropriately if you're visiting a church, temple, or synagogue.
Can I wear sleeveless to a funeral? These days, a sleeveless dress and bare legs is appropriate at most American funerals, especially when it's a very hot climate. Consider a lightweight cardigan if there's a service inside the house of worship and a hat to protect yourself from the sun at the grave site.
A dark dress or suit with skirt of an appropriate length is always good etiquette. Keep shoulders covered and keep a smart jacket to hand as a helpful cover up. A tasteful and respectful colour accent may be appropriate, but if you're not sure, stick with a block colour.
Are bare arms appropriate at a funeral? If the funeral is being held in a church, be sure to dress modestly. Cover your arms, or shoulders at the very least. Black is not mandatory, but you can never go wrong wearing it.
You should also ensure that you keep your shoulders covered and that any skirts or dresses reach the knees. While dark colors should be followed, having tasteful accents of colors is often acceptable. If suits are not quite your thing, then a smart dress is also perfectly acceptable.
First and foremost, dress appropriately. This means no jeans, shorts, or tank tops. Instead, opt for dark, conservative clothing. Women should avoid wearing anything too revealing or flashy, and men should make sure their clothing is clean and wrinkle-free.
Avoid dressing in casual clothing, such as athletic wear, tank tops, or shorts. Skip the flip-flops, tennis shoes, sneakers, or boat shoes. Remove the neon necktie, purse, or accessory. Shy away from wearing jeans, even black ones, because they are considered too casual for a funeral.
What is appropriate clothing for a funeral? Traditionally, funeral etiquette suggests men and women wear black clothing that's conservative and respectful. Black or dark colours are most common, but some cultures expect mourners to wear a less traditional funeral colour.
A funeral is also not the place to turn up a mini LBD or sheer top, so hemlines should remain around or below the knee, and spaghetti straps are often a no-go. Instead, opt for a sleeveless, shoulder-length or long-sleeved dress, or pair a turtle neck with a pair of black flared trousers.
At the traditional funeral most Australians are familiar with, it is respectful to wear smart, well-pressed clothes in a dark colour. Black has long been typically worn by mourners at a traditional funeral, but dark shades such as navy or grey are also appropriate. A smart work suit or outfit is usually acceptable.
For women, adding color can be done through patterns and floral designs. Much like with men's funeral attire, color should be used to subtly accent your outfit. Try to make sure that your outfit does not have overly bright colors or wild patterns that draw attention.
While some people find comfort in seeing their loved ones as they remember them, it may also be uncomfortable to others. If they have an open casket viewing, make sure you follow proper funeral etiquette: DON'T touch the body under any circumstances. Sometimes the casket has a glass to prevent this from happening.
Bold patterns are not appropriate for funerals and should be avoided. Keep skirts and dresses to the knee or below and avoid bare legs in general to keep your look formal. Avoid anything sparkly, fringed or sequined – this isn't a party.
A suit with a skirt or pants in a dark, solid color is a safe choice. You do not have to wear black unless the specific culture dictates it. A skirt of appropriate length and blouse or sweater is normally appropriate.
Avoid Athletic Clothes
Athletic wear, tank tops, and undershirts are not appropriate for funeral or wake attire. The only exception to this is if you're participating in an athletic event for a celebration of life or another unique memorial service.
Select flats or low heels with a comfortable fit that will make you feel both stylish and balanced. The sleeveless dress is appropriate for any church ceremony or service. Typically, they are lightweight and simple to wear; however, they are also very comfortable.
One of the most important things for women to keep in mind when dressing for a funeral is to avoid anything too immodest or revealing. This means no low cut tops, exposed midriffs, high stilettos, form-fitting clothing, or skirts and dresses that hit above the knee.
Catholic Funeral Etiquette
Women should wear a black skirt or dress or pantsuit. If black clothing is not available, attendees should aim for wearing the darkest semi-formal clothes they have. It is no longer required that women wear hats, although some do. Men should absolutely not wear a hat in the church.
You Don't Have To Wear Black
However, colors like dark grey, dark blue, darker green, white, and beige can be appropriate. If you don't own any black clothing, you may always opt for a subtle hue that is appropriate for formal settings. In addition, stay away from anything with distracting patterns or prints.
At some point in history, a solid portion of the population believed: It was bad luck to wear anything new to the funeral, especially shoes. If rain falls during a funeral procession or if there is thunder during a burial, it's a sign the deceased is destined for heaven.
But, linen and cotton are also acceptable fabric choices for both men and women as long as the cut of the suit or dress is more formal and the outfit is ironed before wearing. Although a hat isn't essential funeral attire, women often choose to wear them to add polish to their ensemble.
While different cultures have their own mourning colors, you should typically wear black or neutral colors. Avoid wearing bright colors or prints which can be disrespectful and distracting. Black, white, grey, and navy are the best choices.
In western cultures, red is often seen as a color of joy, love, and vitality. It's the color of celebrations and positive energy. Wearing red to a funeral would be considered inappropriate because it would clash with the somber atmosphere and be viewed as disrespectful.
Sometimes legs are damaged because of the cause or death or because the deceased donated skin. In these cases, displaying the legs may be a distraction or reminder of trauma at the funeral service or viewing. Covering them is often the respectful thing to do. This doesn't only apply to legs but to other body parts too.