Can I wear this dress to a funeral?

[suchagoofball]

I'm attending a funeral next week and tried on my suit only to find that the skirt no longer fits (I put on some weight over winter - I am working to get rid of it but obviously won't be able to do so in the next few days). I have another skirt that does fit but is a little bit tight so I'd rather not wear it if I don't have to.

I wondered if I can get away with this dress instead? It is a dark dress, albeit with white flowers. I'd be wearing it with black heels and either a cardigan or my suit jacket, depending on the weather.

(It hangs weirdly on the hanger but it looks much better when it's on, I promise! I can try and dig out a pic of me wearing it if that helps)

Echoing PPs.

The majority of people at funerals tend, on the whole, to wear a mix of clothing and colours.

I'm at the age now where I have a funeral outfit, including shoes and boots (dependent on the season), and handbag. I think if it as my fond farewell outfit.

I'm sorry for your loss lass

A black dress with white flowers is NOT appropriate for a traditional funeral imo.

White can also be worn for mourning. Also lavender.

When the Queen Mother was queen, her mother died very shortly before she and the king were due to go on an official visit to Paris. Neither colours nor all out mourning black seemed appropriate, so she and Norman Hartnell decided to make her dresses all in white. The choice was very well received in Paris.

I've been to lots of funerals, mostly of elderly people. At none of them was everybody all in black. Women put together an outfit from clothes they already had. Men wore an every day business suit with a black tie. I'm in SE England; maybe it's different in other parts of the UK.

I noticed that at the recent funeral of the Countess of Carnarvon, the Queen wore black and white, several of the men in the family wore dark blue suits, and the women wore black or navy blue with pink hats or coloured scarves.
So I'd say the "all black" rule is definitely relaxing these days.

I'm in Scotland and as I already said, that dress with a dark cardigan or jacket would be perfectly fine.
I usually wear black trousers but neither of my 'funeral' jackets are plain.
Even members of the immediate family wear a variety of respectful but not all black clothes.

Only close family have to wear black. Everyone else just goes smart and not too bright. In in Ireland though.

Actually, now I think about it, not even close family. The family men wear black ties. That's about it.

It seems fine to me. I couldn't tell you who wore what to my sibling's funeral but I don't think everyone wore black, I'm not even convinced I was in all black.

Yes it's respectful so fine to wear

Yes that’s fine imo.

That dress is absolutely fine.

I wore a black shift dress & jacket to a funeral recently and felt quite self conscious as, whilst most others were in sombre clothes, no one else was in all black.

"Nobody expects peo0le to go out and buy a new outfit."

Well, no, but who doesn't have black trousers, skirt, top or dress or one of those combinations in dark grey or navy?

"White can also be worn for mourning."

I have heard of some muslims wearing white for mourning, yes.
And men might wear a white shirt as part of a black suit, but that dress looked like a happy/summery kind of dress to me.

Lavender/purple is a colour of mourning, but for people less close to the deceased. I think the tradition of going to funerals of people you didn't know so well dressed in purple is dying out though.

My mum has already arranged and payed for her funeral, I've been instructed that I have to inform any mourners they have to wear bright colours, so yes that will be ok.
Remember this is a celebration of the deceased life. I went to a funeral a few weeks ago and the widow wore blue as it was her husbands favourite colour.

Perfectly ok

but who doesn't have black trousers, skirt, top or dress or one of those combinations in dark grey or navy?

Me. Unless you count black jeans and a hoody.

I think it’s fine too, especially for early summer.

I've been to lots of funerals, unfortunately, and there are all sorts these days. The last one I went to, one man even wore jeans!

That being said, your dress is absolutely fine. Wear the black suit jacket or cardigan and black shoes with it. Perfect.

It's about being there, paying your respects and dressing respectfully - which is not just about being head to toe in plain black.

The last one I went to, one man even wore jeans! shock Better to turn up wearing jeans than to not bother. Some people don't have somber clothing and can't afford to buy something for a funeral - would any living person expect someone to do otherwise at their funeral.

"Remember this is a celebration of the deceased life."

That's just one way of looking at it.

I'd say no, but my family do full black for funerals.

I'd say no, but my family do full black for funerals. But have you been to funerals that involve people outside your family? Because I have never been to a funeral where everyone is wearing black - and I've been to more than a few.

I don’t think anyone will be looking to see what you’re wearing.
I have been to many funerals over the years and worn everything from bright pink to black. More usually grey, navy, bottle green, deep purple and black are all acceptable for a somber funeral as opposed to a celebration of life service.
The dress looks fine.

Most funerals I've been to people are wearing full black, and not just close family.

I go in full black unless the family tell me they want a different dress code. I've seen people in navy but not a spotty dress like that.