Funeral Attire

[RoadGame]

For context (and not wanting to be maudlin about it), both my family and my wife's family have many members in poor health in their 70s-90s and we're likely days away from one funeral with a fair chance of a second not long after that. In the next five years it's likely we will have several more. It has been a couple decades since I have had to attend a funeral, and so I really don't know what the norm is these days as far as wearing black or not. I also have two young girls; should I be buying black dresses for them? I have an ink blue suit... should I be buying a full on black one? Does it make a difference if it's a church funeral vs. a non-church funeral home kind of place?

Advice and comments about your recent experiences would be helpful, thanks.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I've been to several recently unfortunately. Church, funeral home and even one outdoors. Wore a black suit with a white shirt and neutral tie each time.

Doesn't really need to be anything special, just respectful.

[Cheese]

Nm

[undercoverbrother]

Black/Dark Suit.


As an aside, I feel all men should have a dark suit.

[para transit fellow]

google on: funeral etiquette Canada

but the short version is: wearing black is not required anymore. dress up a bit as if a job interview or wedding

[DownInFlames]

My friend passed away a few weeks ago. He was a Canucks fan and his wife asked everyone to come in jerseys. I wasn't able to make it to the funeral but that would have been cool to see in an otherwise sombre situation.

I think as long as you wear a dark jacket and pants you should be fine. I don't think a full suit is necessary.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

My friend passed away a few weeks ago. He was a Canucks fan and his wife asked everyone to come in jerseys. I wasn't able to make it to the funeral but that would have been cool to see in an otherwise sombre situation.
.

I had a friend that killed himself, many of us had played on the same team.

We all wore our faded jerseys to the funeral. It was really good to see.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

In my opinion, funeral is one time where you should be black suit, with a white or black shirt, and a neutral tie.

It's in vogue to wear flashy socks with a suit, this is a time to keep it black dress socks, black dress shoes.

Funeral, job interview, show some flair, but not a funeral.

[D as in David]

When I lost my wife a decade ago, what people wore was the least of my concerns. Having said that, I can see how older generations may be disturbed by attire that isn't black/dark. I'd recommend dark suit or your nicest pants and shirt if you don't have a suit jacket.

[RoadGame]

Thanks for the answers. On something like this I definitely prefer local experience to some Google result.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by RoadGame

Thanks for the answers. On something like this I definitely prefer local experience to some Google result.

Oh... sorry, I guess you can disregard my comment then

[puffnstuff]

Dark grey or navy works as well. If you are going to wear it for any other occasions might work better than black.

[RoadGame]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Oh... sorry, I guess you can disregard my comment then

You're honourary local.

I'm taking it similar principles apply for my girls (dark/black). Maybe the Bay... can't recall seeing any solid black at our usual kids stores.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Black suit, black shoes white shirt, grey tie. That being said, since this and a casual wedding are the only places where you'd ever want to consider wearing a black suit, a charcoal or dark navy will work just fine.

[bc-chris]

RoadGame - sorry to hear. it's weird how there are 'cycles' in life... for a while you're going to weddings like crazy, then it's babies, then it's funerals (at least that's what my wife and i have noticed).

my general rule for funerals is dress shoes, dark pants and dress shirt, maybe a tie.

my dad's funeral was last september and that's exactly what i wore. for our kids, they were just in nice outfits (our daughter would have been 4 and was in a pretty dress, our son was 2 and was in nice pants (probably khakis) and a little button up shirt).

i think the main thing is to be respectful - would whoever you are there to remember be good with what you are wearing? a hockey buddy of mine passed away about a year ago and a bunch of people at the funeral were in jeans and a t-shirt... and knowing my buddy, he would have been totally fine with that.

[CaptainCrunch]

I've always believed in muted colors at a funeral, black suit, black shoes, white shirt. Neutral tie.


I've always believe that you should always have certain things in your wardrobe, a black suit has always been one of them because they do work in almost every situation.

[GGG]

For kids I wouldn’t worry about dark colours. Just put on a dress. Kids are the best part of funerals as they just don’t understand the loss and are their cheery selves. So having them in brighter colours in my opinion fits.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I've always believed in muted colors at a funeral, black suit, black shoes, white shirt. Neutral tie.


I've always believe that you should always have certain things in your wardrobe, a black suit has always been one of them because they do work in almost every situation.

A black suit is versatile? Perhaps for late cocktails, and funerals.

When I come across a fella in a black suit downtown during the daytime, I anticipate him either taking my party to their seats, or parking my car.

Dark grey/charcoal, for business.

[Traditional_Ale]

What about pinstripes in regard to the funeral? Not the gouache thick kind, but subtle narrow ones?

[Jimmy Stang]

At my mother-in-law’s funeral, my wife’s family decided that they’d wear dark purple as that was her favourite colour. So of course I obliged and got a dress shirt and socks to go with black shoes, charcoal blazer, and a black tie.

If not for those special instructions, I would have replaced the purple and gone all neutral and dark - black and charcoal. I don’t do white dress shirts personally, but a white shirt and black tie looks sharp IMO.

I seldom wear ties as I find that in my business ties are a bit stuffy. But I will put one on for a funeral.

My son (6) wore a dress shirt and clip-on tie from Wal-Mart with some smart (but not dress) pants and shoes. Kids get a bit of pass in my mind, as long as they look smart.