Emergency funeral dress buying: Cribbs Causeway

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I have a short notice family funeral and my only opportunity to try on and buy a black dress is while passing Cribbs Causeway in a limited time window this weekend.

I'm 5ft 2, size 10, pear shaped. This rules out most maxi dresses unless petite, and midi dresses usually look ridiculous on me! Long term I'd be looking to wear it for work/ interviews. Knee length tends to look smartest and most flattering.

Any shops with appropriately formal stock so I can be as efficient as possible as there is little spare time avaliable for browsing and trying. My old staple shops such as Debenhams no longer exist!

John Lewis and Next are together at one end, I would park there and walk through.
M&S is the other end but not far on foot through the mall. There are lots of options in between

Hope you find something. Sorry for your loss.

Hobbs have a decent petite range.
Phase eight, John Lewis, H&M or even Oliver Bonas?

Both next and M&S are good for online ordering that you can pick up in store - if you order tomorrow you may be able to get something delivered to either store, then try on when you’re there to save time. You can also stock check items I think and next might hold them for you. Worth a look at the websites.

Meant to add, in my experience both are good for almost next day delivery in store (depending on the item).

Thanks for the heads ups.

I was thinking of (trying to- my signal is very intermittent at present) browse online if I knew what was there to make looking more efficient.

I had a look in a reasonably sized Next (retail park branch) not long ago and they had nothing formal in that one which surprised me, as a lot of my old work wear came from there hence needing new as most of it's 15+ years old

If your signal does improve I’d be tempted to click and collect some suitable stuff, try it on when you get there and return anything you don’t want. At least then you’d know you likely had something waiting for you in the right size etc.

Are you sure the expectation is that you wear a formal dress? I went to my aunts funeral recently and texted my cousins about dress code. They said there was none and we all wore nice summer dresses

What about ordering something like this navy dress click and collect from M&S?

Or this one if you prefer black?

Do you really have to wear black? Far fewer people do nowadays (we’ve been to a number of funerals in the past few years 🙁) - I really don’t think it’s generally expected any more.

I'd look at John Lewis and M&S. Might be worth asking an assistant for help in John Lewis as there's a lot to look through otherwise. They're at opposite ends of the Mall and Next is about halfway along.

Do you really have to wear black? Far fewer people do nowadays (we’ve been to a number of funerals in the past few years 🙁) - I really don’t think it’s generally expected any more.

Agree with this. I've never been to an all black funeral, and I've been to quite a few.

And does it have to be a dress? What about black trousers with a shirt or tunic in a neutral or subdued shade? Lavender/mauve shades, grey or white are traditional mourning colours.

It's a big formal funeral for an elderly relative. Teenage nephews will be in suits type event. Fortunately I stocked up on school uniform early so have fresh shirts and trousers for my DSs to wear so that's one less thing to sort.

I need to upgrade my black dress department anyway. Regrettably this is my third funeral of the year and my old ones are showing their age as I discovered when dusting them off earlier in the year. It's just awkward timing that we're away from home with poor access to shops and this is my best chance to pass by a reasonable opportunity to try clothes on between where we are and the airport over 300 miles away.

I do need to try on as my proportions are quite awkward/ inconsistent.
M&S and John Lewis are looking like they might be promising so far.

Does it have to be a dress? I've usually just worn smart office type attire. Black trousers, a smart shift top and a black jacket (removed after formal service when hot)). A black skirt would be fine too.

My black trousers have also seen better days, and they're as much effort to get a decent fit on as a dress. When I return to work, I'll get more use from a dress in the long run, and they tend to be more forgiving of where my body shape fluctuates. At least a dress is one item to try on and buy.

I'd go straight to M&S... They have some nice things in at the moment
Choose something that will work for other occasions so you'll get wear out of it. It's a big store so I'm sure you'll find something nice, accessories too if you need them

It's no use now, but a tip to bring your old black clothes back to life is to wash them in a black Dylon machine dye. I have leggings and cardis that I've had for years.

Book a free appointment with the John Lewis personal stylist. They will have a selection of appropriate outfits ready and waiting for you.

I did this recently. It was bloody brilliant!