Mourning clothes are plain and somber garments worn to show respect for the deceased. They have a rich history in many cultures, with the Victorian era being a peak. Different cultures have specific rules for mourning clothing, such as using certain fabrics or colors. Some people keep their mourning clothes for future use, while others dispose of them ritually.
Mourning clothes are garments worn while someone is mourning. Depending on the culture in which one lives, mourning clothing may be entirely new clothing specifically selected for this purpose, or they may be old garments that are slightly modified. In many cultures, no modification is needed, and people simply wear modest, somber clothing while mourning as a mark of respect for the deceased. However, mourning clothing has a rich and interesting history in many cultures, and some very fine examples of mourning clothing can sometimes be seen in textile museums.
The concept of mourning clothing probably reached its height in the West in the Victorian era, when a complex and arcane set of rituals surrounding the mourning process evolved. The dueling fashion was probably related to Queen Victoria, who chose to wear black for the rest of her life after the death of her consort, Prince Albert. Over time, complex rules of mourning began to emerge among the British upper classes, where mourning presented an opportunity to be fashionable under the guise of being respectful.
As a general rule, mourning clothing in many cultures shares several traits. They tend to be very plain, indicating that the wearer is not concerned with fashion or good looks, and are usually sewn in somber colors. In the West, mourning clothing is often black, blue, purple, or gray; Other colors are predominant in other regions of the world, especially white in Asia.
In some cultures, specific fabrics are used to make mourning clothing. These fabrics are often rough and coarse, while softer luxury fabrics are off-limits. In Jewish tradition, mourners who were close to the deceased make small slits in their clothing, in a practice called keriah. Mourners may choose not to wear jewelry during the grieving process, and their general demeanor tends to become muted as they process the death of a loved one. Mourners who are not close to the deceased may choose to wear black bands on their garments.
Some people think that it is unfortunate to wear mourning clothes after a mourning period ends. Usually these people buy special mourning clothes, and these clothes can be kept after a mourning period is over, in case they are needed again. Mourning clothing may also be ritually burned or disposed of in some cultures. In the Victorian era, the black clothes worn by people in complete mourning, the first and most intense stage of mourning, were known as widow’s weeds and were not usually worn again because they were so distinctive.
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