Funeral (Ireland) - what's the right thing to wear?

[Cuppatea14]

I'm very lucky and haven't had to attend a funeral for years, but unfortunately a member of DH's family has died and the funeral is tomorrow. What is the right thing to wear - I know it's not necessary to wear black anymore but presume people do make a bit of an effort and wear something smart? Would something 'worky' (thinking a black shift dress or similar) be appropriate or is that too formal? Thanks.

Smart and black is the way to go if you can.

The black shift dress you suggest sounds perfect.

Family members usually go smart & black, but the rest of the town will turn up to pay their respects in whatever they happen to be wearing on that day, and that's fine too.

I agree with drama. Irish funerals are well attended. I was at one recently.
Had the whole funeral mass. Then graveside, where attendees walked behind the funeral cars to the grave side. Then local hotel for soup and sandwiches.

I wore dark grey and navy as I don't wear black. No one batted an eyelid.
HTH.

Your dress will be perfect

I've been to a million Irish funerals, your dress sounds perfect. Hope the funeral goes well.

Unfortunately I've been to a lot in recent years.

Tbh I think a black shift dress is a bit too formal but some thing 'worky' is about right. Bear in mind the graveyard will be cold and muddy.

Sounds fine. Irish funerals are a different affair to the average UK one - far better attended, no issue of people being invited or only attending if they knew the dead person very well, and - I tend to think - slightly less formal, in that people go to funerals often, and as a result integrate them into their daily lives, so they're not 'special occasions', in dress or other senses. When my grandfather died, my mother's childhood neighbours from the country (who had only met him once, nearly 20 years earlier) drove forty miles with milking overalls on over their suits and changed in the back of their cars.

Bear in mind also, you may have to go and pay your respects before they shut the coffin. They may be "reposing at home", as it's called. It's not something everyone is comfortable with. Of course, the coffin may be closed by the time you get there, so it won't be an issue. I was my FIL in a chapel of rest as he died in hospital not close to home. My friends father who recently passed on, reposed at home and my friend and her sisters all took it in turn to sleep in the lounge beside the open coffin. I find it weird, but my friend took great comfort in it.

Just a thought.

Thanks all for the advice. Will have a rummage through the wardrobe to see have I anything slightly less formal than the shift dress but along those lines. Very good point about going to the graveyard, must consider the shoes too!

I don't think a shift dress is too formal. Standard wear for a lot of people I'd say.

Better to err on the side of smartness- black shift dress & jacket is perfect. Black work coat always looks smart too and the graveside is always cold... my mother goes on about having a black coat "for funerals"