Dressing for a funeral

The custom of wearing black to a funeral is changing according to our funeral trends research.
The way that people dress has changed. In the old days it was black suits and black ties, whereas nowadays you get families wanting people not to wear black.
Black is still most commonly worn by mourners, but other colours are being to appear.
Specific requests not to wear black are becoming more common: a few funerals may even stipulate bright clothing for those attending.
This is especially popular for funerals of younger people – for example, our Funeral Directors have arranged funerals with a pink theme. Families have also asked our Funeral Directors not to wear black or to wear a coloured tie.
Dressing the deceased
It’s popular to dress a loved one in their own clothes. What’s worn is less likely to be everyday clothes and more likely to reflect a hobby or job. Some requests we have recieved include:
- Wedding dresses
- Football strips
- Military uniforms
- Kilts
- Biker‘s leathers
More unusual requests have included:
- Cyclist’s Lycra
- Fisherman’s waders
- Wetsuits
- A clown outfit
Learn more about the options available for dressing your loved one.
For further information on changing funeral trends you can view or download
The Ways We Say Goodbye booklet online.
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