When it comes to laying someone to rest, many family members find themselves grappling with a lot of logistics. From arranging an appropriate place for the funeral to ensuring that there are plenty of tissues on hand, it’s important to ensure that all of the final details are taken care of with love and consideration. This includes choosing the right outfit for your loved one, which may include a gown or shroud. While it might seem like a small detail, the clothing your loved one is dressed in is an important aspect of their farewell and can help people to grieve and remember them fondly.
Typically, a gown or shroud is made from a natural fibre such as cotton, wool or linen. This is often preferred to artificial materials that aren’t biodegradable. They can be designed to resemble day wear or evening dress and often feature false shirt fronts, buttons, etc. They can be personalised with embroidery and other embellishments, if desired. There are also a number of different styles, fabrics and colours available for both men and women. Some are trimmed with floral or religious motifs, for example, to suit a specific culture or faith.
If you’re unsure about what type of clothes to purchase for your loved one, it is worth speaking to the funeral director that is handling their arrangements. They will be able to offer guidance and recommend someone that you can purchase from. Alternatively, there are several companies that specialise in providing clothes for a burial or cremation service.
While there are a number of options to choose from, it’s usually best to stick with a traditional suit for a male and a dress for a female. This is a simple and elegant choice that will make the body of your loved one look polished and respectable. You can add a shirt or blazer and a pair of polished shoes to complete the look.
The decision of what to wear for a funeral can be influenced by the type of ceremony that is being arranged, as well as the location and time of day. For example, a funeral in the morning might be best suited to casual clothing, while an evening service could be more suited to formal attire.
Depending on the person’s body condition, you might need to choose loose-fitting clothing. This is because the body, particularly if it has been embalmed, can become stiff and skin sloughing might occur. It is also possible that the arms and shoulders will be swollen due to extended illness or injury.
Babies and infants can be difficult to dress in a standard garment, which is why there are a number of charities that provide handmade clothes specifically for babies to be buried or cremated in. These include burial wraps and gowns for babies weighing two to eight pounds, which are designed to be easy for funeral directors to dress and to be comfortable for little ones.