How to Dress for Any Occasion

The Occasion: A Funeral or a Wake

Old etiquette: If you’re in mourning, you’re in black.

New etiquette: Your outfit doesn’t have to be black; it does have to be respectful.

What to wear: What’s most important is to convey the somberness of the event, which can be accomplished with toned-down clothing in “dark neutrals, like navy, brown, and forest green,” says etiquette expert Leah Ingram. (Pantsuits and lightweight wool dresses are a safe bet.) Dark and discreet patterns are also fine, as are quiet and classic accessories, like pearls and stud earrings. “This is not the time for your orange-and-yellow Indonesian necklace,” says Rothman. Adds Post, “You shouldn’t be wearing anything festive or fun, unless you’ve been told otherwise.” If you suspect something might be pushing the envelope, skip it.