Funeral dress

[M0reGinPlease]

Unfortunately will have to attend a funeral in next few weeks and need to buy something to wear as I own nothing black. Haven't been to many funerals. Do I need to wear full black? It's going to be a traditional funeral and wake.

I'm late thirties, short and fairly slim. Thinking a dress will be best bet. Any suggestions?

I wore my black work trouser suit with a white blouse to the last funeral I went to at a crematorium.
I wore a black ankle length dress with my work jacket to a Muslim funeral a few weeks ago.

I hope this helps.

No, you don’t need to wear full black. Funerals tend to be informal now than previously.

I attended a funeral in Nov last year. I wore dark jeans, black blouse, black boots and a long black coat.

You don't have to wear black for a funeral.

As a vicar I do a lot of funerals and the only all black ones have been gangster funerals......

If you want to buy a black dress or if this is a celebrity bash where it is formal frocks then go for it. Otherwise just dark colours are fine.

If you do decide to go black M and S have some simple dresses at the moment that might work. As someone who lives in black it can be very draining. Most of the female clergy I know have a fine selection of scarves to go over the black.

If you go for the LBD avoid the nightclub look so nothing backless or exposing too much cleavage. If it is a church it might be cold. If it is a crem then they might have powerful air con so a big scarf can keep you warm and lift the colour out of very dark is a partial option.

I don't think you need to work black. Just keep it dark, simple and respectful

Wear not work

I'm catholic and usually if it's not black then they specify to not wear black or to ask people to wear colour.
I'd wear the darkest colours I own but wouldn't necessarily wear black and wouldn't go and buy anything.
( my wardrobe is funeral really anyhow as I only wear black )
Just smart and tidy.

Thanks all. I own nothing in any dark colours at all, so am thinking a simple dress.

I tend to think it's a bit OTT to turn up in full widow's weeds, as it were, unless you've been specifically asked to wear black or it's a high church sort of affair. A simple dress in a plain colour will be fine. Not too short or otherwise revealing, and avoid wobbly high heels, which will make too much noise in the church and/or sink into the soil in the churchyard.