What should a man wear at a funeral? Proper funeral attire guide!

What should a man wear at a funeral? Proper funeral attire guide!

Many people have a black three-piece suit on hand for whatever occasions may arise. A classic black hat under the arm is a nice accessory, as well as a black umbrella if rain is expected. For colder seasons or climates, a sturdy overcoat such as a peacoat or trench coat will suffice.

 

Funeral attire for men can be difficult, so we’ve decided to sum up the best options in this article. 

In more casual funerals, you can definitely channel a more laidback look with suit and sneakers, or instead you can wear a suit blazer with a pair of jeans.

The acceptable colours at a funeral are limited to the three main suit colours:

  • Black
  • Navy
  • Gray/Charcoal

A funeral is not the time to show off with a red blazer - except on the odd occasion that the family and loved ones of the deceased have requested that people wear colours. This is actually more common than you might think.

What type of suit should I buy for a funeral - The ultimate modern suit

IsuiT - Italian Sartorial Luxury - Recently teamed up with Kired to create a line of Sartorial suits. They cover the three main suit colours for funerals, as mentioned above.

Kired KIRED Brown Cashmere Blazer Brown 000 Kired KIRED Brown Cashmere Blazer Brown 001
€450.00 Regular Price €900.00
Kired KIRED Blue Cashmere Blazer Blue 000 Kired KIRED Blue Cashmere Blazer Blue 001
€450.00 Regular Price €900.00
Kired KIRED Black Wool Ly Pa Elastane Suit Black 000 Kired KIRED Black Wool Ly Pa Elastane Suit Black 001
€600.00 Regular Price €1,200.00
Kired KIRED Blue Virgin Wool Cashmere Ea Suit Blue 000 Kired KIRED Blue Virgin Wool Cashmere Ea Suit Blue 001
€600.00 Regular Price €1,200.00
Kired KIRED Gray Virgin Wool Cashmere Ea Suit Gray 000 Kired KIRED Gray Virgin Wool Cashmere Ea Suit Gray 001
€600.00 Regular Price €1,200.00
Kired KIRED Dark Blue Cashmere Blazer Dark Blue 000 Kired KIRED Dark Blue Cashmere Blazer Dark Blue 001
€450.00 Regular Price €900.00

Our stylists hand-selected these exact colour and fabric combinations to create one thing and one thing only - a suit for all occasions.

If you're looking for something versatile, stylish, hand-made, and not overly expensive.. there really is no better suit to buy.

These modern suits are for modern men - and even the cut itself is modern. A modern cut suit is somewhere in between the middle between an Italian cut suit and a British cut suit.

If you are unaware - an Italian cuit suit is almost like a second skin, and is normally deconstructed. a British cut suit, on the other hand, is padded and looser.

What does this mean? It means that with the Kired & IsuiT collaboration suit you get the best of both worlds.

It's not quite deconstructed, and the fabric is thicker as well as the cut. It's not a traditional Kiton or Cesare Attolini blazer which is much thinner.

There is no better choice for a funeral than one of these 3 suits.

What to wear for a funeral in Summer, spring, autumn, and winter

These Kired suits are perfect for a winter, summer, spring, or fall funeral - making them the ideal choice for those who don't want to pay $10,000 for a complete funeral outfit.

They are made from modern fabrics and are therefore neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter.

Do you have to wear black suit to a funeral?

Kired KIRED Black Wool Ly Pa Elastane Suit Black 000 Kired KIRED Black Wool Ly Pa Elastane Suit Black 001
€600.00 Regular Price €1,200.00

No - but there are a maximum of 4 colour options. Gray, Black, Navy, or dark brown. Anything else will stand out too much. Don't try and break the mould at someone else's funeral. Feel free to pull a stunt at your own - but don't choose someone else's!

Do you have to wear a suit to a funeral?

Although it's normally recommended that you wear a classic 3-piece suit to a funeral, if you are careful you can definitely wear something a little less up-tight. The safer option is a suit, tie, shirt, and dress shoes combination.

If you think it's going to be a hot day - you can definitely lose the tie.

Can you wear jeans at a funeral?

You can wear jeans with a suit, but they would have to be very dark jeans and almost indistinguishable from dress pants. A great example of this would be Barba Napoli dark jeans, as in the example here:

Are sneakers proper funeral attire?

Personally I'd recommend foregoing sneakers for a pair of dress shoes. It is considered disrespectful if you don't dress appropriately for the event - so it's better to not take any risks. If you are in doubt, dress smart.

What colour shirt should you wear to a funeral?

Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€131.28 Regular Price €262.55
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€155.00 Regular Price €310.00
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€155.00 Regular Price €310.00
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€155.00 Regular Price €310.00
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€155.00 Regular Price €310.00
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€155.00 Regular Price €310.00
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€155.00 Regular Price €310.00
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Linen Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Linen Shirt White 001
€152.50 Regular Price €305.00
Isaia Isaia White Cotton Shirt Short Sleeve White 000 Isaia Isaia White Cotton Shirt Short Sleeve White 001
€232.90 Regular Price €685.00
Isaia Isaia White Cotton Shirt Short Sleeve White 000 Isaia Isaia White Cotton Shirt Short Sleeve White 001
€232.90 Regular Price €685.00
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€175.53 Regular Price €351.05
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€120.95 Regular Price €241.90
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Linen Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Linen Shirt White 001
€162.25 Regular Price €324.50
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€138.65 Regular Price €277.30
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Shirt White 001
€137.18 Regular Price €274.35
Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Ea Shirt White 000 Luigi Borrelli Luigi Borrelli White Cotton Ea Shirt White 001
€122.43 Regular Price €244.85
Isaia Isaia  White Cotton Shirt White 000 Isaia Isaia  White Cotton Shirt White 001
€200.00 Regular Price €400.00
Isaia Isaia  White Cotton Shirt White 000 Isaia Isaia  White Cotton Shirt White 001
€200.00 Regular Price €400.00
Kiton Kiton Knt White Viscose EA Shirt White 000 Kiton Kiton Knt White Viscose EA Shirt White 001

-30% extra at the checkout

€414.00 Regular Price €920.00
Kiton Kiton Knt White Cotton Ea Shirt White 000 Kiton Kiton Knt White Cotton Ea Shirt White 001

-30% extra at the checkout

€429.75 Regular Price €955.00
Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta White Cotton Shirt White 000 Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta White Cotton Shirt White 001

-10% extra at the checkout

€325.00 Regular Price €650.00
Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta White Cotton Shirt White 000 Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta White Cotton Shirt White 001

-10% extra at the checkout

€250.00 Regular Price €500.00
Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta White Cotton Shirt White 000 Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta White Cotton Shirt White 001

-10% extra at the checkout

€395.00 Regular Price €790.00
Kiton Kiton Knt White Cotton Shirt White 000 Kiton Kiton Knt White Cotton Shirt White 001

-30% extra at the checkout

€415.00 Regular Price €830.00

White is the most classic choice for white, although if everyone else is in black you can choose grey/charcoal. It's important to match the tie with the shirt - but in general it doesn't matter. Just make sure they contrast enough.

Is a white shirt worn with a black suit appropriate for funerals?

Yes - it's the safest option. Other colours such as grey or charcoal will be better choices in cold climates or if there aren't many guests attending who might be wearing black suits.

If you're not sure, play it safe and go with a classic white shirt and black suit combination.

What type of shoes should you wear to a funeral?

Black, very dark brown (navy), or burgundy dress shoes work best for funerals. These colours will also match the majority of your wardrobe - making them more versatile. If possible I would always opt for dark brown instead of black, as it is less formal. However, black does tend to be the most formal.

Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 000 Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 001
€995.00 Regular Price €1,990.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€735.00 Regular Price €1,470.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€1,177.50 Regular Price €2,355.00
Kiton Kiton Burgundy Leather Dress Shoes Burgundy 000 Kiton Kiton Burgundy Leather Dress Shoes Burgundy 001
€1,255.00 Regular Price €2,510.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€1,390.00 Regular Price €2,780.00
Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 000 Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 001
€1,150.00 Regular Price €2,300.00
Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Crocodile Dress Shoes Brown 000 Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Crocodile Dress Shoes Brown 001
€4,375.00 Regular Price €8,750.00
Kiton Kiton Burgundy Leather Dress Shoes Burgundy 000 Kiton Kiton Burgundy Leather Dress Shoes Burgundy 001
€735.00 Regular Price €1,470.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€1,195.00 Regular Price €2,390.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€1,177.50 Regular Price €2,355.00
Kiton Kiton Burgundy Leather Dress Shoes Burgundy 000 Kiton Kiton Burgundy Leather Dress Shoes Burgundy 001
€1,095.00 Regular Price €2,190.00
Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Suede Dress Shoes Brown 000 Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Suede Dress Shoes Brown 001
€1,150.00 Regular Price €2,300.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€1,177.50 Regular Price €2,355.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€1,390.00 Regular Price €2,780.00
Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Suede Dress Shoes Brown 000 Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Suede Dress Shoes Brown 001
€1,390.00 Regular Price €2,780.00
Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Crocodile Dress Shoes Brown 000 Kiton Kiton Brown Leather Crocodile Dress Shoes Brown 001
€2,396.00 Regular Price €5,990.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather Crocodile Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather Crocodile Dress Shoes Black 001
€2,999.40 Regular Price €4,999.00
FeFè Napoli Fefè Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 000 FeFè Napoli Fefè Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 001
€57.50 Regular Price €115.00
FeFè Napoli Fefè Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 000 FeFè Napoli Fefè Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 001
€57.50 Regular Price €115.00
FeFè Napoli Fefè Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 000 FeFè Napoli Fefè Brown Leather Dress Shoes Brown 001
€57.50 Regular Price €115.00
FeFè Napoli Fefè Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 FeFè Napoli Fefè Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€57.50 Regular Price €115.00
FeFè Napoli Fefè Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 FeFè Napoli Fefè Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€57.50 Regular Price €115.00
Kiton Kiton Black Leather with Fur Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton Kiton Black Leather with Fur Dress Shoes Black 001
€1,393.00 Regular Price €1,990.00
Kiton KITON Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 000 Kiton KITON Black Leather Dress Shoes Black 001
€980.00 Regular Price €1,400.00

When it comes to laces - they should always be dark if you are wearing a black suit. If you're wearing brown shoes - try and match the laces with their respective shoe (e.g. burgundy laces in burgundy shoes).

How do you tie a black tie for a funeral?

The Windsor knot is the safest option. If in doubt, wear it with an asymmetrical or four-in-hand knot - but don't opt for anything more complicated than this!

What accessories can I wear to a funeral?

Other than your suit, the most important accessory to wear is a dark overcoat. It should match your suit, but it doesn't have to be anything specific. Just make sure it's an appropriate length - you don't want to look like you're at a fancy dress party! A classic black umbrella or black hat are also recommended. A great belt can add a subtle twist to your outfit.

Want to learn about the best Italian suit brands with the Sartorial style, and how much they will cost? Check out our pricing guide on Italian suits here