• 54 things to wear

What Should I Wear to a Funeral

Dark, plain and modest: what to wear to a funeral, a viewing or a memorial service.

What Should I Wear to a Funeral

  1. BlackThe usual funeral color in many countries, and almost always appropriate.
  2. Navy blueA good alternative to black.
  3. Gray or charcoalSubdued and plain. A gray suit or dress is a fair stand-in for black.
  4. MaroonA deep, quiet color that one UK funeral guide lists beside navy and gray.
  5. Any dark, muted colorDeep green or brown is fine. The point is to blend in.
  6. Solid colorsA plain fabric draws less notice than a print.
  7. White, where the custom is whiteSome cultures mourn in white. Wear it only when you know the family does.
  8. The color the family asks forSome families ask guests to wear a favorite color. Their wish comes before any rule.
  9. Bright colors, when invitedFor a celebration of life whose family asks for color. Not otherwise.

All 54 things to wear

Colors 9

  • Any dark, muted color Deep green or brown is fine. The point is to blend in.
  • Black The usual funeral color in many countries, and almost always appropriate.
  • Bright colors, when invited For a celebration of life whose family asks for color. Not otherwise.
  • The color the family asks for Some families ask guests to wear a favorite color. Their wish comes before any rule.
  • Gray or charcoal Subdued and plain. A gray suit or dress is a fair stand-in for black.
  • Maroon A deep, quiet color that one UK funeral guide lists beside navy and gray.
  • Navy blue A good alternative to black.
  • Solid colors A plain fabric draws less notice than a print.
  • White, where the custom is white Some cultures mourn in white. Wear it only when you know the family does.

Suits and trousers 14

  • Blazer over a plain white T-shirt A little more casual and still acceptable with smart trousers.
  • Collared shirt in a plain color Long sleeves, tucked in, with or without a jacket over it.
  • Dark suit Black, navy or charcoal. It does not need to be new, only clean and pressed.
  • Dark sweater over a collared shirt For a teenager, or for anyone without a jacket.
  • Dark tie in a muted color Navy, gray or deep green. Black is not your only choice.
  • Dark trouser suit A solid color, with a plain top under the jacket.
  • Dark trousers and a plain top, for a child Smart and plain is enough. A child does not need a suit bought for one day.
  • Dark trousers with a blazer The answer when you do not own a suit. Nobody will count the pieces.
  • Linen suit Cooler than wool for a summer funeral, and still a suit.
  • Plain black tie Optional at many services now. Wear one when you cannot tell how formal it will be.
  • Smart dark jumpsuit Comfortable through a long service. Add a blazer if the cut is casual.
  • Smart dark trousers, full or ankle length With a plain blouse or a fine sweater. Jeans do not stand in for these.
  • Smart trousers and a lightweight shirt The summer answer when a jacket is too much.
  • White long-sleeved shirt Plain and ironed. It sits quietly under a dark jacket.

Dresses and skirts 10

  • Blazer over a dress It makes a plain everyday dress smart enough.
  • Dark skirt suit A solid color is the safe choice at a formal service.
  • Hat, where the custom has one Some families and cultures wear hats to a funeral. Ask if you are not sure.
  • Knee-length dark dress Plain, not flashy. Add a cardigan or a blazer if the venue is cool.
  • Knee-length dark skirt With a plain blouse or a fine sweater.
  • Light, loose dark skirt with a plain top For a summer service, when a suit would be too warm.
  • Plain blouse or top No bold color and no pattern. It goes under a jacket or a cardigan.
  • Plain dark cardigan For a cold church or chapel, and easy to take off afterwards.
  • Smart dress, for a child Plain, and comfortable enough to sit still in.
  • Tights Usual with a skirt or a dress at a traditional service.

Shoes 6

  • Any smart dark shoes If you own no dress shoes, your smartest dark pair is acceptable.
  • Flat shoes Quiet in an aisle and steady on grass at a graveside.
  • Open-toed shoes, where the place suits Fine at some summer or beach services. Check the venue and the weather first.
  • Polished black dress shoes The traditional choice with a suit. Wipe them the night before.
  • Pumps or low heels Keep the heel sensible. You may be on your feet for a long time.
  • Smart dark shoes, for a child School shoes do the job.

Coats and layers 6

  • Dark coat Black or another dark color for a winter service. Keep it on at the graveside.
  • Dark gloves For a burial in cold weather.
  • Dark jacket A plain dark jacket is enough when you have no long coat.
  • Dark scarf Plain, and warm enough for standing outdoors.
  • Extra warm layer A graveside service means standing still outdoors. Bring one more layer than you think.
  • Sunglasses, outdoors Usually accepted at a service held outside. Take them off indoors.

Leave at home 9

  • No baseball cap Rarely right at a funeral.
  • No bright red, unless asked Red reads as festive at many services. A few customs do wear it, so ask.
  • No flashy prints Loud patterns draw eyes to you on a day that is about someone else.
  • No flip-flops Even at a summer service.
  • No glittery fabric Sequins and shine belong to parties.
  • No jeans Too casual for most services, unless the family has said to dress down.
  • No short-sleeved shirt with a suit Long sleeves are the safer choice under a jacket or with a tie.
  • No sneakers Athletic shoes are best avoided. Any plain dark shoe is better.
  • Nothing revealing When in doubt, choose the more modest option.

How it works

What should I wear for a funeral? Dark, plain, modest clothes, unless the family asks otherwise. These 54 things, from a dark suit to the colors that stand in for black, are listed whole below.

Read the full guide

What to wear at a funeral, in short

Funeral guides give one rule of thumb: dress as you would for a serious business meeting, in dark or subdued colors, and aim to blend in. If you cannot decide, a little overdressed is better than underdressed.

When the family asks for something else

The family's wish comes first. Some ask guests to wear a favorite color, and a celebration of life may call for bright clothes. White is the traditional mourning color in Chinese culture, and a UK funeral firm's guide notes that mourners at Hindu and Sikh funerals wear white. If you are unsure, ask a relative or the funeral director.

  • Lay the clothes out the night before, so the morning holds one less decision.
  • For a graveside service, dress for the weather first: a dark coat and shoes that are steady on grass.

Questions and answers

What should a man wear to a funeral?

A dark suit with a white long-sleeved shirt and a plain tie, or dark trousers with a blazer if you own no suit. Add polished dark shoes. Leave jeans, sneakers and a baseball cap at home.

What should I wear to a viewing or a visitation?

Dress as you would for the funeral: dark, plain and modest. A suit is not required. Dark trousers with a plain shirt or blouse, or a dark dress with a cardigan, shows the family the same respect.

What should I wear to a memorial service?

Dark, subdued clothes, unless the invitation says otherwise. The place matters: one funeral guide notes that a memorial at a beach is less formal than a service in a place of worship. For a celebration of life, the family may ask for color.

What should I wear to my father's funeral?

You are family, so the choice is partly yours to make. Agree with your relatives whether everyone wears black or a color he loved, and tell the guests. If nothing is agreed, a dark suit or a plain dark dress is right.

Do I have to wear black to a funeral?

No. Black is almost always appropriate, but dark, muted colors such as navy, gray and maroon are accepted too. Avoid bright colors and flashy prints unless the family asks for them.

More tools

Show 6 more

Browse People and Jobs