Non black funeral outfit help please

[maybeyoushoulddrive]

It's my Mum's funeral on Friday and she specified a happy funeral with no black. I'm struggling to know what on earth to wear but I wonder if you lovely Mners could guide me?

I'm 5'6", size 12-14, 32G. I'd love a dress I think or a suit, I'm financially challenged though so nothing too expensive. I would like to be able to wear it again! I'm going shopping tomorrow...

Off to do the school run/piano lessons now but will be back later. Thank you!

Maybeyoushoulddrive, firstly, I'm really sorry about your mum.
The approach that I take to funeral dressing ( for people that I was close to ) is to dress in a way that is a nod to them, for example, my grandmother loved a bit of glamour and bright pinks and blues so I wore a black boat neck jumper and a full skirt which had a beautiful hot pink and turquoise pattern, complete with sequins. I'm going to another family member's funeral and I'm planning to wear some brightly coloured shoes as he was daft as a brush and given to wearing unsuitable shoes to family events.
I know that might be not be the approach for you but I'm sure if you give us some ideas about what you fancy and what suits you then there'll be loads of brilliant suggestions from posters who are infinitely more stylish than me.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

My dad died last year, and I didn't know what to wear for the funeral. So I went to Debenhams and used their free shoppers assisting service. They were very helpful and put a nice outfit together that did not break the bank.

All the best at this difficult time.

So sorry to hear about your mum.

I had this dilemma for my dad's funeral and really struggled as I prefer to wear black at funerals (I am very conservative!) but in the end chose a print dress that I knew my dad liked me in and dressed it up with a smart suit jacket over it.

Hope you get something sorted and best wishes for the day itself.

Following on from Friendlymum's post ^ - is this the kind of thing you could see yourself wearing ? Or is it too loud ? www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/phase-eight/Dresses/Fleur-Print-Dress/201659026

Slightly more sober, www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Dresses/Butterfly-Crepe-Dress/201555351

Sorry to hear about your mum.

I wore white to dads. I was called back from holiday, so I couldnt go home first - about 8hrs drive from my parents - to get something else. Lucky it wasnt a swimsuit and sarong. With a christmas tree decoration in my hair (it was white and I had pulled it off the tree at christmas a few months before - it was a bird or something) and everyone thought it was most amusing that I went out for our last big family meal with a sparkly dove sitting on my head. He had said no black.

For mum I had a flowery dress and black ballerina top (I think). She said no black, but was a 'proper' lady and would have appreciated the mainly black outfit.

Thank you for your lovely messages, I'm sorry so many of you have been through this

I love the Phase Eight dresses! I think the first one is probably a bit too bright (elderly rellies would be very po-faced I think), but the navy one is lovely. I've never been in there before - and never worn a cowl neck, would it fit my ample bust in???

Merlin did you have to book the personal shopper or could I just turn up and ask? Time is vanishing and I can feel panic setting in. I live in jeans and have very few smart clothes in my wardrobe

Frontpaw I love the idea of your turning up in white! My Mum was quite a proper lady too - very much no cleavage on show etc etc. I don't want to let her down...

I'm so sorry, you poor thing. You won't let her down whatever you wear x

Maybe, I'm a 34FF and cowl necks have been a bit of a revelation to me, they seem to flatter, treading the baps on display/baps modestly covered middle ground very well, it took me ages to find a (black) dress that didn't make me look like either an extra from Up Pompeii or a maiden aunt.
There are lots of nice dresses on the House of Fraser site, some still in the sale.

I think white used to be an official mourning colour, Frontpaw.

Msarsebiscuit that's interesting. I'll give them a go! We don't have a house of Fraser near by, and I'll need to try the clothes on first so daren't risk online shopping...

Thank you for all your help everyone.

Unfortunately Phase Eight didn't have the lovely cowl neck dress in to try, but I found something very similar in Laura Ashley of all places. It's navy/white pattern, jersey wrap dress and I've got a navy bolero to go with it. Mum liked navy, so hopefully she'd approve

Last question : can I wear my black suede high heeled boots with it??? Or would I look like a bruise?

MaybeYouShoudDrive,

I didn't book, I just turned up. Perhaps a good idea to avoid busy times such as the rush hour or weekends. I went after the school run in the morning and did not have to wait.

All the best.

I'm really glad that you found something you're comfortable with, Maybe, I think your boots sound fine - I'm sure navy and black will work.

I was going to suggest something in blue as its not too lairy but sounds like we were thinking alike. The boots sound fine.