…To buy a ‘funeral coat’?

[Goatinthegarden]

Maybe this is a bit of a bizarre question, but I have a funeral to attend shortly. Previous funerals I have been to have either been in warmer months, or we have been requested not to wear black.

I’m attending a funeral next week and think I should wear all black. I have appropriate shoes and dress bought for a previous funeral, but I don’t own a black coat. All of the very smart black coats I am finding online are about £200-300, (which is a bit more than I would usually pay for a coat), but I’m wondering if it would be sensible to buy a very smart, very timeless coat to keep in the wardrobe for the next twenty odd years just for funerals. Or have I just taken total leave of my senses?

There doesn’t seem to be as much choice as I would have expected either, do people not bother with traditional funeral attire anymore?

YANBU every adult should keep formal funeral attire in their wardrobes.

YABU what a weird, morbid thing to do, just wear something else or buy something cheaper, no one will mind.

I wouldn't pay that much for a coat just for a funeral. Unfortunately I'll be going to one soon and I'm jus planning on wearing my leather jacket.

I have a funeral coat, it’s very dark teal. I never wear black as I look dreadful in black. Navy or charcoal would be ok if you don’t want black.

I have a very smart black coat. It wasn’t bought for funerals but is suitable for a funeral .

I’d just buy a practical coat or use what I already have tbh

Oh, if you don't mind second hand, you should easily be able to pick one up from a charity shop for next to nothing. Sombre, sensible jackets and coats are one of their specialities at this time of year 🤓

I have never been able to wear the clothes I wore to my father's funeral again so an expensive coat may not be a good idea if it always reminds you of the funeral when you go to wear it

H and m have a nice black wrap coat for £50

What size are you OP? I have a smart black wool (with faux fur collar) La Redoute coat I bought for a funeral. Only worn it once but can't kid myself I'll ever fit into it again. It's a size 12 I think. It cost a couple of hundred quid but it's a few years old now, although done nothing but sat quietly on a hook! Anyway, if it's fit you can have it for £40 plus postage.

Tell a lie .. £40! It was nice in real life too. !

I do have a black coat - alas gets quite a lot of wear due to occupational hazard. I paid £100 in the jl sale for this one but previous one was Asda and one before Sainsbury's.

Look for a wrap that will be warm over a jacket?
How far will you need to walk/be outside - do you need a coat?

Why do you need to spend so much on a coat?

Madness to pay that amount if you aren't going to wear it regularly. I think any decent (I.e. not tatty or covered in dog hair) coat would be fine, bit if you must have clack then get something cheap.

Yes, I got a smart-enough black mac exactly for this reason after going to a funeral and being conscious of not having the "right" coat. My fall down is never having black shoes.

I bought a dark navy blue calf length coat last year in the M&s sale with the intention of it being my 'smart' coat. It does Winter christenings, funerals and Christmas church services. Only been out twice so far but it should last me 30 odd years!

I bought it after borrowing my Mums for the last few yeArs!

I really can't believe you cannot find a smart black coat for less than £200, unless you have very expensive tastes and just default to very high end shops.

I bought one in primark for an interview, it was cheap as chips and quite smart looking. I save it now for funerals, i don't usually wear all black but a black coat means i can wear more or less anything underneath.

I have a funeral coat - it comes in increasingly handy

Gosh what a lot of replies, thank you so much to everyone and to @GothicaAutistica for the flowers.

I don’t usually fret so much about these things, and I rarely follow traditional protocols, but I guess I’m really worrying that I won’t be ‘doing right’ by the person if I don’t dress appropriately even though I don’t believe that they are able to see me any more.

I do own other tailored coats, but they are either light in colour or not the right length to wear with the dress I have. I do like to dress smartly, but most days, I tend to wear outdoorsy/sports gear and rarely wear black.

I think I will just go and invest in a classic, good quality coat for occasional (not just funerals) wear.

I have a very beautiful black coat that I paid several hundred pounds for, but there is no way I would reserve it for funerals!

Up to you. I'd probably buy one off ebay.

I have a long black coat (it's more like a fitted suit jacket but designed to go over a shift dress than a coat really) that I've only ever worn for funerals. Not by design, but that's the way it's turned out.

I got a black wool coat for £4 in a charity shop. I wouldn't spend £300 on my every day coat let alone a funeral coat so think we probably have different attitudes to such things.

It's nice to feel smart at funerals, it shows respect to the deceased and their family. But I agree that any smart coat in a subtle colour will do.

I have a black poncho-cum-wrap, which is useful for funerals on cold days, without having to buy a proper coat, which could date.

@Morgan12

Why do you need to spend so much on a coat?

I don’t need to, that’s why I was asking what people thought.

I have found with tailored coats in the past, that if I buy cheap, they look tatty quickly (I got an M&S tan coat last year which cost £90 and bobbled immediately)

I sometimes think that maybe investing more means it will be better quality and last longer.

@loobylou10

I have a funeral coat - it comes in increasingly handy

Unfortunately, as I get older I can see why…