What to Wear to a Summer Funeral

One of the things you don’t want to do at the last minute before going to a funeral is figure out what to wear. After all, going to a funeral is hard enough as it is. Cold Chicago winters make picking an outfit out in the winter months a little easier. But when it’s warm outside, choosing a funeral outfit can be a challenge.

The good news is that we can help. If you’re planning a funeral and need help deciding what to wear, keep reading. This post will cover a few of the basic things to take into account:

• Choose a cool fabric: Lightweight fabrics like linen, chambray and cotton are your best bet for summer funeral attire. These materials will naturally keep you cool on steamy summer afternoons.
• Consider short sleeves: Short sleeves are typically fine for a summer funeral. Men can wear a short-sleeve button-up shirt, and women can choose a short-sleeve blouse or short-sleeve dress. Just don’t go sleeveless altogether.
• Avoid tight clothing: Restrictive clothes are uncomfortable any time of year, but they’re especially bad in the middle of the summer. Opt for looser fitting clothes that will be more breathable during the service.
• Pay attention to length: As a general rule, dresses and skirts should never fall above the knee for a funeral. So, if you’re going to be wearing a dress or skirt, make sure it at least goes down below your knees.
• Stick to neutral colors: Though black was the traditional color to wear when planning a funeral, it’s no longer as customary as it once was. Gray, beige and navy are all fine substitutes nowadays, and those colors can help keep you cooler on sunny summer days.
• Wear a hat: Some religions require head coverings at funeral services. But if you’re not attending a service where this is a dress code requirement, you may still want to consider wearing a hat to protect your head from the heat. Just avoid informal hats or baseball caps.
• Buy appropriate footwear: It can be tempting for men to wear open-toed shoes in the summer months, but men should always wear appropriate dress shoes to a funeral. While women can wear open-toed shoes, just be sure that they’re dressy and not too casual.
• Keep accessories minimal: There’s no need for large handbags or a ton of other accessories at a funeral. In addition to being a distraction, carrying around accessories is a big burden in the summer months.
• Use the job interview test: Ask yourself if your chosen outfit would be appropriate for a job interview or in a similar professional setting. If so, it’s generally fine to wear to a funeral.
• Ask the family: When in doubt, just ask the family members what they’d prefer guests wear. If you don’t want to bother the family, talk to someone else who’s attending to see what they’re going to wear.

If you have any other questions about planning a funeral, reach out to Marik-Baken Funeral Services Ltd. As a premier funeral home in the Chicagoland area, we’re available to answer any of your questions regarding memorial services, funerals or cremation services.

Categorised in: Funeral Etiquette

This post was written by Writer