At one time, all mourners were expected to wear formal black dress, complete with hats, ties, veils and gloves. Nowadays the rules have become somewhat more relaxed due to the many cultural, religious and personal influences on burial arrangements. For times when no special requests have been made, there are guidelines for appropriate funeral attire.
The traditional black suit and simple dress are very much still considered the best choice. The modern version is a semi-formal look that is just slightly more relaxed. The new normal is a bit more casual and comfortable, incorporating the additional accepted colors of gray and dark blue.
Men can wear the traditional suit and tie or they may opt for the slightly more casual ensemble of slacks, sport coat or blazer and collared golfing shirt. The general rule is that the look be conservative and always paired with dark dress shoes. Shirts may be light colored but pants, jackets and ties should be dark with little to no pattern print.
Women are expected to dress conservatively in slacks or office worthy dresses and skirts in dark colors. The outfit should not draw attention because of a high hemline, a low neckline, bare shoulders or flashy patterns and design elements. While heels are acceptable, flats may be more fitting for graveside services.
Children have less strict guidelines to follow. Boys can opt for suits, dress slacks and collared shirts, or even sweater vests while the girls should wear dresses without excessive ruffles or bold, colorful patterns. The youngsters clothing does not have to be black, though it should be of dark or neutral tones with a minimum amount of adornment.
The traditional basics of funeral attire are always a safe guideline though there will be times when this is not the norm. Many religions and cultural groups have their own expectations as to how mourners should dress, and personalized instructions from the deceased may also change the rules. In those situations, the special style requests should be followed as a show of final respects.
