Dress for funeral

[JuniperBeer]

My sister has died suddenly. Need a dress or seperates ideas. for funeral in early January.

Size 16-18, 5ft 7. 36c boobs. Bit of a tummy.
Good legs. I’m 32.

Any ideas?
Budget around up to £150ish.

I live in slim fit jeans and silk shirts, wrap dresses, chinos and joules striped tops.

I hate black trousers with a passion. So think a dress is really the only option. Not a fan of skirts.

I really like this: www.asos.com/new-look/new-look-pleated-midi-dress-in-black/prd/13225151?affid=24950&channelref=product+search&mk=abc&ppcadref=6676693810%7C84742565928%7Cpla-294682000766&cpn=6676693810&_cclid=Google_Cj0KCQiA89zvBRDoARIsAOIePbARMnXRp7CarSqNFfgQd4bodYYQQGQq97tNn79iffqmjLPwDRORAEAaAisFEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQiA89zvBRDoARIsAOIePbARMnXRp7CarSqNFfgQd4bodYYQQGQq97tNn79iffqmjLPwDRORAEAaAisFEALw_wcB

But it doesn’t fit right round my middle. It makes me look huge.

Please help!

Sorry for your loss.

I think those pleated midi skirts are v unforgiving on tummies though look gorgeous on the slim. I also think you need to feel you look fine on the day if the funeral so you can focus on the day itself. Psychological armour is v important.

I'd be inclined to find a shift dress shape which skims the tum and looks smart. Then you can pop a jacket over - blazer type or a biker style if you want to de-formalise it. For me, funeral attire doesn't have to be black, just dark/smart, but you may feel differently. I'll have a look for images.

Something like this perhaps? The lace sleeves make it less severe but it is an easy shape to wear.

I’m so sorry that you are looking for a dress for such an occasion. My heart goes out to you.

Maybe something like this....

www.bravissimo.com/products/simone-dress-black-pd799blk/

www.joules.com/Women/The-Edit/Navy-Spot/Carla/Long-Sleeve-Shirt-Dress?id=211121|NAVSPOT

I wore navy to my mums funeral as I knew she’d hate black, especially on someone so young. Wear what your sister would like too.

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/rosemary-dress-black-petal-head-scatter/sty-w0438-blk?cat=C1_S2_G4

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/kassidy-jersey-midi-dress-black/sty-j0625-blk?cat=C1_S2_G4

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/francesca-jersey-midi-dress-black-country-posy/sty-j0483-blk?cat=C1_S2

I have the Next one KeiraTwiceKnightly linked to. I have a bit of a tummy, and it disguises that well. Very comfortable to wear.

Sorry for your loss.

Very sorry for your loss. I would look at Boden as suggested, you'll get a decent fabric that is comfortable to wear. For a January funeral make sure it's going to be warm enough with your coat, get a pretty scarf to fill in the gap at the top and good gloves. Most importantly wear shoes that will keep your feet cosy. Lined boots are best but if not then some closed shoes. You do not want the cold from the ground or stone floors going straight in to you. Warm feet make a lot of difference to how you cope with a tough day.

A plain dress in black/navy/purple is fine, it's not a fashion parade. Black skirt and shirt is perfectly fine and can be bought in supermarkets. Please don't worry about clothes. I'm so sorry for your loss, must be very difficult

@lifeisgoodagain

No. It’s not a fashion parade. But it is an event where I will be speaking in front of over 150 people and want to feel comfortable. I don’t want a skirt. I said this. I want something that suits me and not thrown on in a last minute panic. I don’t want “perfectly fine” It’s my sisters funeral.

I am lucky to have the time to do so, hence the thread asking for help. “A plain dress” comes in many shapes and styles. I’m asking for examples. Don’t bother commenting on threads if you don’t have anything to add.

@Northernlurker @Tomorrowisanewday @DevonLulu @keiratwiceknightly thanks. The next one looks good, will try it on today. Have also ordered the Francesca Biden dress. Thank you all, feel a bit more calmer about what I’m looking for now.

Clothes do matter don't they, it makes a big difference to how you feel. I searched high and low for the right thing for a funeral last February. I felt good in it and that really helped.

You're paying your respects to your sister - of course it matters that you're comfortable in yourself, including what you're wearing!

Sorry for your loss op xx I agree with pp that the pleats in the skirt are unforgiving. Search for a 'skater' dress. I wear a lot of this style for work, comfy and usually sit under the bust then the shape usually allows for tummy coverage. Xxx

shift dress?
www.hobbs.com/product/cordelia-dress/0120-5719-9845L00-BLACK-IVORY.html#start=0&sz=60&cgid=new-dresses&prefn1=refinementColor&prefv1=Black&pid=0120-5719-9845L00-BLACK-IVORY&pos=2

www.hobbs.com/product/henna-dress/0219-5376-9045L00-BLACK.html#navAjax=true&cgid=sale&sz=60&start=0&prefn1=category0&prefv1=Dresses&prefn2=refinementColor&prefv2=Black&pid=0219-5376-9045L00-BLACK&pos=5

It could be very old in Jan - long sleeve - very smart-
www.hobbs.com/product/rebecca-knitted-dress/0120-9659-1185L00-BLACK.html#navAjax=true&cgid=sale&sz=60&start=0&prefn1=category0&prefv1=Dresses&prefn2=refinementColor&prefv2=Black&pid=0120-9659-1185L00-BLACK&pos=3

me again - sleeveless - with a jacket?www.hobbs.com/product/mina-dress/0119-5829-9045L00-BLACK.html#start=0&sz=60&cgid=sale&prefn1=category0&prefv1=Dresses&prefn2=refinementColor&prefv2=Black&pid=0119-5829-9045L00-BLACK&pos=13

I'm sorry for your loss OP

I wore this John Lewis dress recently to a funeral. The fabric was really nice, quite thick so I didn’t freeze with a coat over the top for outside. The draped front made it just slightly different to a straight forward black dress.

I bought a black all saints sweater dress for my Dads funeral a few weeks ago
www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/15836772701050619979?q=all+saints+black+sweater+dress&client=safari&hl=en-gb&biw=375&bih=630&tbs=cat:2271,pdtr0:767515|767563,vw:f,init_ar:SgVKAwjfEUoKUggIm-wuIMvsLkoHsgQECPWnIA%3D%3D,ss:44&prmd=sinv&prds=epd:11846925185576734490,paur:ClkAsKraX6_ELKWXL85O2xjfH1FzROjn8vwAc5Xx1rd8nfBxMUXjNJq81f2sBrkvv6hPazGYFH1MSppBlMDrTlXMaEVO4iaOWD4x809qOxnBkOEaERb5m6QNwhIZAFPVH71vi16YKLak-HZJ-9A8FC40HVGvKQ,cdl:1,prmr:1,cs:1
Similar to this
I wore with black tights and ankle boots and a black fur Karen Mullen coat

Sorry for your loss
I'm going to a funeral in January too and I've just bought these tights because I'm worried about being too cold

rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202843757183

They look like sheer tights but they're actually fleece lined. They took about a week to arrive and I'm really impressed with them. I'd normally wear standard opaque fleece tights but with the dress I'm wearing they looked too casual

@reallifegetsintheway2 I like the last Hobbs one
@ScribblyGum I think that's the exact dress I have in mind, apart from the asymmetric hem. Ive got visions of it flapping against and annoying me! I've ordered it to try on

Thank you so much for all your ideas. Fleece lined tights are something I hadn't thought of either!

Don't forget your thermal undies.

Once again, I'm so sorry you are in this position and hope you've had some useful advice here. Clothes can help a little with confidence etc and in my view, anything that helps, even a tiny bit, is good.

LK Bennett or Hobbs will have work dresses like that. Probably reduced. They can be worn to all sorts of events. I saw a women tonight in a berry coloured dress like that. I thought it looked chic and could be worn at a funeral. I don’t know where it came from but it was a good colour for winter. Jaeger might also have something. Boden fabrics can be cheap in my view. But they have a huge choice.

This must be so difficult for you. Hope all goes well.

When my dad passed away earlier this year I had a black dress with small white spots from M&Co which was very similar in style to the two Boden dresses linked above. I felt perfectly dressed and comfortable. I actually chose the dress as something I could wear again but haven't been able to bring myself to do this since., I would have gone for Boden first choice if they had had anything suitable at that time.

It also depends on what you think your sister would want you to wear; I know that nowadays everyone doesn't automatically wear black but as my dad was 90 it seemed appropriate.