Inappropriate to wear white to a funeral?

Question

I think it is just about the most inappropriate thing you could wear; a woman that I know (that I consider to be an attention whore-but I digress) wore white from head to toe at a funeral; just wondering if anyone else finds this wrong.

By the way we are talking about a 47 year-old woman trying to act like a 20 year old here (which I am by the way).

We talking about a OLDER WHITE WOMAN! She is not from China or India-born in America!!!!!

Answer 1

It takes a lot to shock me, but this just did it.

What the hell was this girl thinking? She HAD to know it would be considered tasteless, as well as disrespectful.

What's wrong with people!?

I give up, I'm going to bed.

Answer 2

Fifty years ago I'd say yes, but social rules have changed. White is still pushing it I think, especially if she was wearing it to get attention. If she was really emotional, maybe she was trying to make a statement about them being in a better place. My cousin wore a colorful showy dress to her own mother's funeral, because she knew that if her mother was alive that's the one she would have picked out for her to wear! People whispered, but we didn't care. She honored her mother much more that way than if she had worn something more traditional. My sister told a fart joke, because my aunt would have laughed her head off at it. No one else got it but those of us close to her. My aunt would have been very pleased, and even more pleased at the weird stares we all got. We all would have gone back home and laughed about how stiff and formal everyone was. But I digress...anyway, I was saying, I think "funeral etiquette" depends on the funeral, on the person, and on the motivation.

Answer 3

If I remember correctly, when Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. died the family requested everyone wear white as a symbol of on-going life in the hereafter. If the skirt was extremely short where she looked like she was doing an imitation of Britney Spears, then that would be disrespectful. Or, if the neckline were plunging and all eyes were on that view, that would be a reason to be upset. On the opposite spectrum, at evening society weddings the women will be dressed in formal black clothing. Doesn't that seem just as disrespectul?

Sounds like a huge personality clash where nothing she did would have been right. However, I will say that if the deceased were a member of your family it would be understandable if you took things a little more to heart. Give her a break, maybe she and the deceased had a "pact" that they would wear white to the other one's funeral. If the deceased were a male, maybe he liked her in white. Why not ask her?

Answer 4

I am from India and in India people wear white at funerals and funeral ceremonies.

Wearing white is taken as sharing the agony of family members and a respect for the dead.

Wearing very colourful at funerals is taken in negative especially for women at funerals in India.

Check for any indian funeral picture on google and you will find people wearing white indian dresses - Men in white "Kurta-Pajama" & women in white "Saree" (traditional Indian dresses)

Answer 5

It depends on the custom in the country where the funeral is held. I would consider someone wearing tight revealing clothes to his fathers funeral to be inappropriate anywhere ...ie my brother.

Answer 6

NO crimson trench. Jeezus. go on your acquaintances and borrrow some thing black in case you have not got it. The black pants are effective yet you elect a black sweater/jacket to flow on appropriate of the white lacy shirt. And do'n't placed on fancy heels. Funerals are fairly between the uncommon events which you're no longer meant to seem particularly.

Answer 7

My Aunt died twomonths ago and everyone was wearing different colors at the funeral. I wore white shirt, blue tie with a brown suit.

Answer 8

what the hell?

are you that bent on fashion that you get offended saying good bye to a family/friend because someone else is wearing a different color than you?

damn! Get over yourself, the funeral is not about you, it is not about her. it's about a group of people saying a final goodbye for closure. Be glad I wasn't there with my leather and chains or just off work because my family never tells me when my favorite uncle dies until 3 hours before the ceremony begins.

what the hell is the problem with white? was it after labor day? where you bothered that someone was smiling too? relax and grow your own spine instead of gossipping about everyone else's unwashed cars when you're driving a mud covered farmer's truck.

Gossip is ugly. and pent up bitter hags drive me crazy. go out with the rest of the family belt back a few peachy fuzzy navels and give the world a rest from devil's advocate tongue.

Answer 9

I don't think it really matters much today. Back in the day, everyone had to wear black, but now as long as it's more or less formal, respectful attire, any color is acceptable.

Of course, you'd also have to consider her reasons for wearing white. Was it to call attention and stand out? In that case, it's definitely inappropriate.

Answer 10

In the Chinese culture, it's proper to wear white to a funeral. So, it really depends on the culture of the funeral your going to. In the US Black is the appropriate color to wear but depending on who the people are, white sometimes could be appropriate if you don't have other clothes to wear.

Answer 11

It boils down to the Customs and Traditions, of each Culture, in a Country...period.
Anything deviates from that deviates from Etiquette... period.

The above holds true for planned occassions, as is usual - not to Wartime or Natural calamities...