What to Wear to a Celebration of Life (and What to Avoid)

Co-authored by Elle Monus and Devin McSween

Last Updated: December 4, 2022 References

A celebration of life is a joyful event where family and friends come together to reminisce and honor the life of their loved one who recently passed. Unlike the somber formality of funerals, a celebration of life is typically more casual, where laughter and colorful attire are encouraged. Knowing what to wear to a celebration of life can be difficult, as the event can be held at a family member’s home, a banquet hall, or outdoors. To help, we put together outfit recommendations for men and women, along with considerations to take when planning your outfit.

Things You Should Know

For women, wear a dress or slacks with heels to a formal event or jeans and a blouse with flats to a casual event.
For men, wear a button down, nice trousers, and dress shoes to a formal event or jeans, a polo, and sneakers to a casual event.
Follow the family’s dress code and tone of the event.
Avoid distracting and overly casual clothing, such as neon colors and flip-flops.

Section 1 of 4:

Outfit Ideas for Women

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Mid-length dress and heels. Opt for semi-formal attire if the celebration of life is at a more formal venue, such as an upscale restaurant or a place of worship. For example, you could wear a navy blue or maroon dress with matching heels and a tasteful necklace.^{[1]
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Slacks, button-down, and flats. Keep your attire more conservative when attending a celebration of life held at a reception hall or event space. Try a clean button-down in a neutral or subtle color with black, gray, or khaki slacks. Accessorize with simple jewelry and a pop of color.^{[2]
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Colorful skirt, blouse, and flats. Dress comfortably and more casually for a celebration of life held at a family member’s home. Pair a patterned skirt in light pinks, reds, greens, or yellows with a matching blouse and neutral flats.^{[3]
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Jeans, blouse, and flats. Go for a more casual look if the celebration of life is held outdoors. For example, try a pair of dark-wash jeans and a blouse in a colorful solid or print. A nice, structured t-shirt and clean, stylish sneakers are also acceptable.^{[4]
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Sundress and sneakers. The celebration of life may be held at the beach or require you to take part in outdoor activities. Keep your outfit comfortable, stylish, and respectful with a mid-length sundress in a colorful floral or solid print and clean, white sneakers.^{[5]
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- Long shorts and a colorful solid or patterned structured t-shirt is another great casual option.

Section 2 of 4:

Outfit Ideas for Men

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Slacks, button-down, and dress shoes. Keep your outfit classic and conservative for a celebration of life held at a formal venue. Try a pastel-colored button-down, a pair of slacks in black, gray, or khaki, and neutral dress shoes. Add a pop of color in your accessories, such as a tie or pocket square.^{[6]
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Dark trousers, button-down, and boots. Aim for a balance of casual and put together for a slightly less formal celebration of life. For example, wear a pair of nice trousers in black, gray, or brown with a button-down in light blue, green, purple, or pink. Finish the look off with a nice pair of black or brown boots.^{[7]
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Chinos, collared shirt, and boots. Choose a more relaxed outfit when you attend a celebration of life at a luncheon or home gathering. Opt for a colorful shirt with a pair of white, light gray, or khaki chinos during the spring and summer and black, navy blue, or maroon chinos during the fall and winter.^{[8]
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Jeans, polo shirt, and sneakers. Keep your outfit casual and comfortable for a celebration of life outdoors. Wear a nice pair of jeans and a polo in a bright color or print with clean, stylish sneakers due to the more relaxed atmosphere.^{[9]
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Section 3 of 4:

Things to Avoid

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Distracting colors or prints. Keep the attention away from yourself and towards the celebration of life. Avoid neon colors, loud prints, and overly sparkly or distracting clothes and accessories. ^{[10]
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Revealing clothes. Keep your outfit on the conservative side. While a celebration of life is more casual than a funeral, you still need to be respectful of the loved one’s family. Choose dresses and skirts that fall at the knee or below, avoid plunging necklines, and keep button-down shirts buttoned.^{[11]
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Graphic t-shirts. Even though a celebration of life can be a laid-back event, avoid being distracting and overly casual by wearing a graphic t-shirt. Instead, wear a nice, structured t-shirt in a solid color or striped print.^{[12]
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Flip-flops and sandals. Wear conservative, closed-toe shoes to remain respectful of the event and appear put together. Stick to low heels, flats, dress shoes, and nice boots for a more formal celebration of life. Even if the event is very casual, stick to a pair of clean sneakers or loafers.^{[13]
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Section 4 of 4:

Other Things to Consider

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Dress for the location and venue. Take into account what you would normally wear when going to an event where the celebration of life is held. If the celebration of life is at a church or restaurant, dress formally but with style. Choose a pair of jeans and a nice t-shirt if the celebration of life is an outdoor get-together.^{[14]
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Follow the dress code. Many families honor their loved one’s life by asking that you dress in their loved one’s favorite color. If the loved one was known for their style, the family may ask you to be flashy and fashionable. You may also be asked to dress for a theme, such as wearing the jerseys of your loved one’s favorite sports team.^{[15]
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Plan for activities. Wear clothes that allow you to participate in the events scheduled for the celebration of life. If you are walking or hiking to celebrate your loved one’s love of the outdoors, wear athletic shoes or hiking boots. Accessorize appropriately for the activities too, such as wearing a hat to a beach celebration of life.^{[16]
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Understand the tone of the event. The loved one’s family members will set the tone of the celebration of life, so follow cues on whether the event is more festive or relaxed. The celebration of life may be a beach bonfire, where you can wear a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, or a religious service where you should dress more conservatively.^{[17]
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- The celebration of life may follow the loved one’s religious or cultural customs that are more celebratory or formal. Dress respectfully and only wear clothing that is religious or cultural if you are asked.^{[18]
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Keep the time of day in mind. Evening events are typically more formal and daytime events are more casual. There are always exceptions, such as if the celebration of life is a nighttime gathering at the loved one’s favorite bar or at an afternoon religious service.^{[19]
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Check the weather. During the cooler months, add a blazer or cashmere sweater for a formal event or a jacket and flannel shirt for a more casual get-together. When it’s warmer, wear linen pants or a flowy dress with a light sweater for a more formal event or keep it casual in light jeans or long shorts and a nice t-shirt.^{[20]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What should a girl wear to a celebration of life?

Elle Monus
Image Consultant
Elle Monus is an Image Consultant and the Co-Founder of True Image Group. With over 11 years of fashion industry experience, she specializes in holistic approaches to branding, size-inclusive image consulting, and personal styling. Additionally, Elle has had the opportunity to work on several New York Fashion Week shows and has been featured in multiple media outlets, such as Racked.

Elle Monus

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

A sweater dress with ankle boots could be a good option, as well as a mid-length T-shirt dress paired with a blazer.