# Funeral Fashion **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711 "2010-08-19T04:48:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/1 "2010-08-19T04:48:30Z")
I’m going to a funeral on Friday. I didn’t know the guy, but I did know his family (if that makes sense). However, my only suit is gray, and I was planning on wearing a pale purple shirt with it. Not formal enough? Should I hunt around for a nice navy or black suit? ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/2 "2010-08-19T05:11:29Z")
Grey should be fine, but ditch the purple shirt IMO. Do you have a white shirt? ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/3 "2010-08-19T05:14:08Z")
The grey suit is fine. A vivid purple would be inappropriate, but a pale purple shirt is ok, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/4 "2010-08-19T05:14:36Z")
I do. I also have a blue shirt. Would that be better? (I’m in love with the purple, but I’m open to suggestions :D). ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/5 "2010-08-19T05:27:11Z")
Gray suit is fine; like others said, skip the purple or any other “fun” colored shirt. A sedate blue shirt is fine. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/6 "2010-08-19T07:40:08Z")
You have a special place in my heart. You’re not thinking of wearing a ball cap and sweats. I think the purple shirt would be smashing. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/7 "2010-08-19T07:41:36Z")
The purple shirt would look smashing, but for a funeral go with the white. Plenty of time to look wonderful later. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/8 "2010-08-19T12:48:51Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Not formal enough? I have never considered a funeral a reason for formal attire. The attire for a funeral should be dark somber colors, to not bring attention to yourself. The grey suit should be fine. Wear a white shirt. And if you don’t have a white shirt…get one. Everyone should have one white dress shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/9 "2010-08-19T13:26:16Z")
Very well, I will ditch the purple. White it is. Thanks for your help, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![panman\_1960](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@panman\_1960](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panman_1960)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/10 "2010-08-19T13:30:46Z")
I’d say a black shirt with the grey suit would be quite appropriate and smashing! But I’m partial to black anyway! later, Tom. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/11 "2010-08-19T14:03:26Z")
The last time I was at a funeral I wore a black suit with a black T-shirt and nobody objected. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/12 "2010-08-19T14:07:18Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > You have a special place in my heart. You’re not thinking of wearing a ball cap and sweats. I think the purple shirt would be smashing. No kidding. I’m constantly amazed at people who show up at funeral services in jeans. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/13 "2010-08-19T14:08:03Z")
After not needing to attend any for many years, I’ve been to about half a dozen funerals in the last year. Writing about it should in no way indicate that I endorse this trend but dressing for an occasion seems to be a thing of the past. My own opinion is that your grey suit is fine, and the white shirt is more appropriate. But the reality is that you’re likey to go to this event and see young men in shorts, flip-flops and baseball caps, and women in orange sun dresses and realize that your light purple shirt would not have raised any eyebrows. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/14 "2010-08-19T14:10:57Z")
Victorian era England and US lavender was considered a mourning color. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/15 "2010-08-19T14:31:36Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Victorian era England and US lavender was considered a mourning color. Just saying. Really? No shit. I didn’t know that. And for what it’s worth, white is a mourning color in IIRC China and India, so, y’know, there’s that, for the white shirt suggestion. Although - if you have one, or are going shopping for a new non-purple shirt anyway - I think a black shirt would a) be better for a funeral and b) look nicer with a gray suit. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/16 "2010-08-19T14:44:36Z")
Morado (the bluish purple range, including lavender) is a mourning color in Spain, but generally more for items than for people. Easter Friday… well, you can’t quite call them “decorations”, and items such as embroidered heavy cloth placed on coffins come in black or in those bluish purples; funeral crowns and posies are often done in those shades if the deceased was an adult (in white for children). Ribbons can be placed on flags to show mourning; again, the ribbons may be black or bluish purple. My family’s mourning cloth is medium-dark bluish purple velvet. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/17 "2010-08-19T15:30:12Z")
As my relatives age, I find myself going to more and more funerals. Etiquette for men tends to be sober coloured suits, white shirt, neutral tie, but not necessarily black. Of course, this is the UK, where I guess we tend to be a bit more formal. The only exception to this was a service for a friend who died suddenly at 35 and was a flamboyant character - we were specifically requested to wear bright colours for his. > [@gwendee](#): > > But the reality is that you’re likey to go to this event and see young men in shorts, flip-flops and baseball caps, and women in orange sun dresses and realize that your light purple shirt would not have raised any eyebrows. Seriously?? Who are these people?? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/18 "2010-08-19T15:42:11Z")
I also own a dark purple shirt and a silk gray one. The gray would be too much, I know. Now I’m tilting back in favor of the light purple, though. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/19 "2010-08-19T18:29:28Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > > [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > > > You have a special place in my heart. You’re not thinking of wearing a ball cap and sweats. I think the purple shirt would be smashing. > > No kidding. I’m constantly amazed at people who show up at funeral services in jeans. WTF? I know! I was watching Family Feud and the question was “name a place it would be inappropriate to wear jeans” and no one guessed funeral. Furthermore, it was on the board, but only, like, 3 people said that. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711/20 "2010-08-19T18:31:11Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > I know! I was watching Family Feud and the question was “name a place it would be inappropriate to wear jeans” and no one guessed funeral. Furthermore, it was on the board, but only, like, 3 people said that. I could think of ten. My mother would say ‘it’s never appropriate’. But then she is like The Queen, so… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-fashion/550711.md?page=2)