Funeral dress code?

[champignonsavage]

Hi I need some advice please. If you were going to a funeral and were told the dress code was "casual" would you still wear all black? Or would it be more appropriate to wear another colour? I have absolutely no idea how to interpret "casual" in the context of a funeral and don't want to bother the person who is recently bereaved with such a trivial question when they're grieving. Hoping mumsnetters can help instead.

No . I've never worn all black. Maybe black bottoms with a color top or visa versa.

I'd wear all black but maybe wide leg trousers and a t-shirt and black vans or similar x

Sometimes navy can be a could call.

That's a tricky one. I've been to several funerals where the family gave stipulated "no black" or "bright colours only". But not one that just says "casual".
I'd maybe play it safe by wearing a navy dress but take a really bright scarf or cardigan which you could stick on if everyone else is there in bright colours.

I'd go smart casual in navy combined with neutral colours. The last funeral I went to, the dress code was jeans!

I always wear black to a funeral, but not necessarily formal wear.

I wore a black dress to one a month ago,but it's a dress I wear at work,too. Most of us had raincoats on for the outside it, and then everything from jeans to suits inside.

I don't remember what people wore to my parents' funerals. I was just glad they were there.

That’s a tricky one, I think I may wear my black jumpsuit as it’s a fairly casual style.

I wouldn’t wear all black. I’d wear sober,
muted colours (grey, navy, maybe some white) unless there was a specific request for bright colours to be worn.

I should think 'casual' means formal wear like a suit and tie isn't expected, but a bit smarter than jeans and t-sirt.

I've been to quite a lot of funerals, and black has never been the dress code. The men might wear a black tie, that's all. Neutral colours, grey or navy are all fine.

But I think the expectation of black for funerals, or not, is a cultural thing which varies within the UK.

@champignonsavage Id wear navy. I nearly always do. Casual to me means no suits or formal jackets for women. If you know the person who has died, you have some idea. I would wear navy or beige chinos and a white shirt. Black or navy bag.

I'd assume like smart casual, so men don't need to wear a suit but could wear chinos etc.

Might also reflect the weather if you are in a warm part of the UK?

I'd wear something muted, colour wise e.g. navy linen trousers and a neutral blouse, olive green dress etc

I'd probably still wear black....I pretty much wear black all the time anyway. Just more smart casual than formal.

But I'd say anything dark coloured would be fine...navy, charcoal etc

I think casual means no need for a suit. I'd wear clothes that covered shoulders & cleavage, predominately dark.

Last two funerals I've attended,

last autumn, a black long skirt, brown sweater, pink & brown scarf, and brown heeled boots.

this summer, a navy, calf length, fit&flare linen dress with abstract yellow flowers, and navy block heel sandals.

Basically something comfortable, respectful and tidy

I would wear dark colours (doesn’t have to be black) but casual trousers/top/cardigan. I would interpret that to mean they’re not fixated on a dress code.

I've never worn black. Any darkish colours are fine. Last funeral I went to I wore a Mountain Warehouse jersey dress in green with black and white flowers on.

Anything vaguely like that would be fine. Or really anything except ripped jeans or neon bright colours.

No need to overthink it. It doesn’t sound like dress code is particularly important to them, as it generally isn't at funerals these days.

Navy jersey dress with flowers is my go to for non black funerals

‘Casual’ to me would indicate they’d rather people didn’t wear formal black attire.

No, and TBh hardly anyone seems to wear black at funerals nowadays - and I’ve been to a few lately.

I would always wear black to a funeral unless specifically told not to. It seems the respectful thing.

Thanks very much for all the replies.

@Screamingabdabz Don’t see why black is the only colour associated with respect. When you think about it - why? Because Queen Victoria dressed in black for decades? In other countries, white, purple and red are worn. I’d always do what family suggest and these days it’s often not black if they want a more celebratory occasion. I think navy is a good compromise and DH, like most men, doesn’t own a black suit. Only the smartest of funerals are people all in black now.

I think casual means suits aren’t required and don’t feel like you have to buy something especially for it.

It’s quite common with ‘younger’ funerals I think, and definitely when the family would rather people turned up in whatever they had rather than not at all.

I tend to wear black at a funeral has I have a lot of black clothes generally I can wear, but any somber colours are fine.

Casual I would probably wear black trousers and boots and a black jacket with a blouse underneath in either black or a darker/muted colour if I was going to be taking the jacket off later.