What is the dress code for a funeral? Do you have to wear black?

Answer 1

The idea of wearing black has been around for centuries. I think it became most significant in the Victorian period, when Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert died in 1861, and in a state of mourning she wore black for the rest of her life.
(Of course that was her choice, I think etiquette at the time was to wear black for the first 2 years, and then mauve for a period after that.)

I think that naturally it's polite etiquette to wear formal black clothing. Things like men wearing eg. shorts, or women wearing eg. mini skirts would look very disrespectful and mocking of the deceased.
Failing black, dark colours such as navy blue or dark grey probably have the same connotations. But it would all depend on the deceased's/family's request.

Answer 2

Tradition dictates that attendees wear black to funerals; however, I believe that the attendee should consider the personality of the deceased, the deceased's family members and their personalities and attitudes, where the funeral is being held, etc. The formality or informality of the event should be gleaned from these factors, then dress accordingly. For instance, you have a surfer dude who never wore a suit in his life. He is not going to want people to wear suits to his funeral. He is also not going to want people to be drab and wear dark colors. He will want them to be full of life and happy and wear happy colors. Of course, he is not alive to have a say in this, so his family may think differently. What sort of event has his family planned? Are they having it in a church? Then chances are, you need to wear a suit or black dress. Are they having the funeral on the beach? Then you can wear shorts and sandals. Hopefully, family members honor the personality of the deceased and do as the deceased would wish. Unfortunately, this, too often, doesn't happen. For weddings, again, the attendee should consider the personality of the people to be wed, the location of the wedding and the personalities and attitudes of family members and other attendees. On a personal note, it sounds to me like you're clinging to the past and are trying to force that onto others. Not all people feel that way any more; however, the only real rule should be this: the attendee should take the time and have the consideration to be aware of his or her host's settings and have the respect to dress accordingly.

Answer 3

In the past few years I've seen every kind of attire imaginable at funerals. I think sometimes it has to do with the occupations of the attendees and the fact that they left work to attend the funeral.

You do not have to wear black, but I personally, would wear something that was suitable for a church service.

Answer 4

Not too long ago, I attended a funeral of a friend, he was only 18. I saw people wearing all sorts of different things.

Overall, the tone was drab colors. I wore a dark blue dress with light blue flowers on it. Nothing that was attention getting.

Answer 5

No-other colors are acceptable, but most wear black, navy, gray, suits. I think it also depends on how close you were to the deceased also.
In some Christian/Pentecostal religions, death is a celebration of a new life. So they wear colorful clothes to funerals. I like this idea much better.

Answer 6

I always thought it's because black symbolizes death or something but I've seen people in grey suits & navy blue dresses. I just wouldn't wear anything flamboyant. Finally it IS a funeral so I don't think people will really notice what you're wearing.

Answer 7

You don't have to wear black if you don't want, you can also wear gray or navy. Nothing flashy.

Down here we usually wear a white or black shirt with the person picture in front of it and a message on the back of the shirt. That is something we usually do in Hrtd, CT.

I am not telling you to do that. I was just sharing with you what we do down here. lol.

Answer 8

I wore a white, trimmed in black summer dress to my dad's funeral. I wore a nice floral print to my mom's funeral.
My mom didn't even wear black to my dad's funeral.

Answer 9

It used to be that you would say "where what you would wear to church". But church attire has grown increasingly casual over the years.

Your dress should match the seriousness of the situation. It should not be anything that draws attention to you. Black is perfectly okay. You can't go wrong with it. But it's no longer mandatory.

Answer 10

Wearing black is not necessary.

However, you should dress conservatively and modestly out of respect. Whatever you'd wear to dress up for a wedding or church is fine.