WITH ALL DUE RESPECT

Look your best while paying your respects

At the risk of sounding cliché, true friends are there for you through good times and bad. While it’s easy to share laughs and enjoy life’s adventures with your pals, it’s almost more important to be there in times of strife when a shoulder to cry on is the order of the day.

Attending a wake or memorial when a friend’s loved one passes is an age-old custom and one that provides support for the bereaved. This is the most important reason to attend.

Now, if you will indulge the Inevitable Gentleman as we wax superficial for a moment – looking your best at these ceremonies is just as important when paying respects to the deceased’s family. Unfortunately, an all-too-familiar trend in our ever increasingly casual society finds mourners dressing far too informally.

We’ll make it easy for you. Opt for a conservative suit in a muted or dark color. A tie, always preferrable, can be skipped in this situation. No suit? While we cannot conceive of an adult man not owning at least one, we’ll humbly provide you with these alternatives. (But please make it priority to purchase a suit.)

• A sports coat, dark dress pants, a button-down shirt with a tie

• A cardigan with dark khakis or wool trousers, a tie and long-sleeved button-down shirt

• If you must wear a polo shirt, do so under a sports coat or as a last resort, a sweater

• Wear a belt and dress shoes with dark socks – not sneakers or work boots.

• Denim jeans are a no-no, yes even if they are a dark indigo or black.

• T-shirts. Seriously?

Lastly, avoid anything flashy. You're not there to draw attention to yourself.