Funeral dress code in 2026

The last funeral we went to, a friend’s husband, most people wore jeans, the hearse had a motorbike escort, he was only in his 50’s.
It does depend on the family of the deceased and their guidance.

I think people wear what they are comfortable with nowadays. I wore my husbands favourite dress to his funeral I know he would of loved it, but I got a few disapproving looks from his bowls club ladies, Well it was white with large flower pattern 🙂

Unless stated otherwise I would always wear dark colours.
I have a black Jaeger dress from 25+ years ago that I usually drag out.

I am always surprised at what people deem appropriate for a funeral.

To be fair I think a maxi dress is more evening/holiday attire.

My mum was Greek and at her funeral black was expected. Mil turned up in a light tartan skirt and red jumper. I was mortified, more from the point of view that she really stood out and so she would have been upset. We have been to too many funerals over the past couple of years and people were dressed in all sorts of colours but mainly darker ones. When my husband dies, the instruction will be brights. He hates me in black. Mine will be whatever you are comfortable in.

It depends on the person who has died, their personality and wishes. The last funeral I went to saw most people dressed up smartly, in dark colours, but not necessarily black. He was a smart dresser himself who cared what he looked like, and it would have felt disrespectful to attend wearing jeans.

I'm attending a funeral in a week's time and I'm going all out black. The funeral is for a very old lady I've known throughout my life and she would be horrified by anything other than black for a funeral. Obviously I know she won't know anything about it, but I will. So I think it can all depend. For my mother's funeral I wore a grey suit because I knew she hated black on me (or anyone really).

It seems that the family often communicate “instructions”

When I attended my Aunty’s funeral a couple of years ago we were asked to be colourful and casual, I said the same at my DMs funeral.

I think it really depends nowadays, people can and do wear casual clothes for many occasions, I was quite shocked at my daughters wedding to see how co casually some of the guests were dressed (not on our side of the family haha), people don’t dress up in church, theatres, all expensive hotels and restaurants anymore. Unless, of course, the venue insists on formal or smart dress.

I’ve always wondered why dark colours were expected at such sad occasions. Funerals for me are to celebrate the life of the departed.
The colour of the clothes you wear does not signify respect. The fact that you attend is respect.
Of course swimwear or looking really dirty or unkempt might not go down too well.