What to Wear to a Funeral in Summer
The problem in summer is not the dress code, it is the heat. Crematorium chapels are small, full and warm, and graveside services have no shade.
- Fabric
- Linen, cotton or a lightweight wool in a dark colour. Dark does not have to mean heavy.
- Men
- Skip the jacket if it is genuinely hot — a dark shirt with dark trousers is fine. Bring the tie in a pocket in case everyone else has one.
- Women
- A dark dress with sleeves, or a light dark-coloured layer over a sleeveless one. Take the layer off at the wake, not in the chapel.
- Everyone
- Water, and something to fan with. People faint at summer funerals every year.
Practical summer things nobody mentions
- 1
Sunglasses are fine outdoors and should come off inside.
- 2
A hat is fine at a graveside; men remove it during prayers at most Christian services.
- 3
Sunscreen before you leave. A burial can be forty minutes in full sun.
- 4
Choose a fabric that does not show sweat. Pale grey is the worst offender and dark navy the best.
Still covered
- 5
Sleeveless is acceptable under a layer, not on its own in a chapel.
- 6
Knee length or longer, still.
- 7
Open-toed shoes are acceptable indoors if plain and dark; closed and flat for a burial.
Questions people actually ask
Do I still have to wear black to a summer funeral?
Dark, yes; heavy, no. Lightweight navy or charcoal in linen or cotton is completely correct and considerably more comfortable.