The Dos and Don’ts of Dressing for a Funeral

If you’re in the middle of planning a funeral in Philadelphia, the last thing on your mind is probably your attire or what you’ll wear to the service. However, dressing conservatively can help you show respect to both the deceased and the surviving family members attending the service. Use these easy “dos” and “don’ts” when dressing for a funeral.

• Do: stick to dark colors. Traditional rules state that you should be dressed entirely in black for a funeral service. However, modern funeral dress codes are a bit more lax — dark hues of green, grey, and navy are all generally considered appropriate.    
• Don’t: dress in bright colors. Avoid outfits with any form of bright colors or neon, even if used as an accent to an otherwise darker-colored outfit. For example, a black tie with pink pinstripes wouldn’t be appropriate in most circumstances.
• Do: ask the family of the deceased about cultural traditions. If the deceased was a member of a particular religion, the funeral service may have special rules concerning what is and isn’t appropriate attire. For example, if you’re attending a Hindu wake, you might see mourners wearing casual white attire to honor the deceased instead of the traditional black. If you attend an Orthodox Jewish funeral, on the other hand, you’ll likely see guests dressed much more conservatively. When in doubt, always ask the family members of the deceased if their religion has any special dress rules that should be observed.
• Don’t: wear too much makeup. If you wear makeup, you’ll want to keep things minimal for a funeral. Stick to light, natural colors and a nude lipstick. Avoid anything featuring bright colors, glitter, or unnatural hues.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is difficult. At McCafferty Funeral Homes, we strive to provide respectful and affordable funeral and  cremation services in Philadelphia to honor your loved one.