Please help me find a stylish black dress.

[MarnieCo]

Sadly, I need to buy a black dress for a funeral.

I've just taken delivery of this Ghost dress, good value, good weight to the fabri but too low cut and the XS is too big.
https://www.johnlewis.com/ghost-meryl-satin-midi-dress/p109652057

I really want to be stylish, smart and respectful.
Links so much appreciated.

This looks like a bargain!
https://www.jasperconran.com/products/carys-v-neck-split-skirt-shirtdress?currency=GBP&variant=43462582927594&stkn=45f773f19ee5&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwvKtBhDrARIsAJj-kTj98eTeJO6CcODyM5TlT4g2oLE9dmFUz8oc1T6lseiZHrbKSgOznUsaAnolEALw_wcB

I don't know anything about this brand but assuming the dress you linked is your budget so any of these fit the bill?

Finery black dresses
Dress 1
Dress 2
Dress 3
Dress 4

Remember that you don’t have to wear black ( in most religions / cultures).

Anything plain, smart , modest and dark is usually suitable . So navy, dark grey, brown, dark maroon or dark green are all suitable. As is a plain light coloured top and dark Jacket and dark trousers / skirt. Or say a navy dress with a subtle dark print.

I just thought I’d mention that in case you already have something suitable or it widens your shopping options.

dress

dress 2

That looks pretty perfect, just my style. Thank you, off to check sizing.

That Jasper Conran dress is a beauty and a bargain.

I'm just looking at it now. The reviews aren't great tbh.

Amended post - misread what I was replying to

I'm on the look out for an LBD and have had my eye on this one:

https://www.next.co.uk/style/LS212495/P52011?dp=a&dndl=1&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmm5UWueNj9WoyiOzCXyYRw8JUi&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk8bA6qmPhAMVSZhQBh1lXgIiEAQYASABEgLwmmD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#P52011

I usually find smart dresses at Karen Millen:

https://www.karenmillen.com/womens/dresses/black-dresses

for an English funeral you really should wear black. I was struck by the few at Derek Drapers funeral who didn’t wear black, it stood out.

That's not my experience, in England.

I wear black because I have it, but many other people don't. I haven't been to any funerals in England in the past year, but I did go to a neighbour's wake in a pub restaurant last month and I didn't see anyone there in black including immediate family.

A year or so before Covid I went to 6 funerals, which was very unusual for me. Three were completely unexpected, the people who died were of working age. I knew them all for different reasons so it wasn't the same people at the funerals.

There may well be funerals where everyone wears black. Perhaps it depends where you live, and whether it's a big funeral because the deceased was a public figure.

I will be wearing black. A mark of respect.

How do you know it's English?

I don't think black is necessary.

I'm of Irish descent but live in the UK. My go-to funeral outfit (and as a Catholic I go to a LOT of funerals) is a navy blue shift dress and matching jacket with a navy blue top coat if it's cold.

Last month I arranged and attended my Mum's funeral and wore a very dark green dress and coat.

most people who attended Mum's wore sombre-ish colours. A few didn't. I really didn't mind. I was just grateful they attended.

I read somewhere that if you're not close family/ close friends or it's not a very formal Royal or famous person/ MP type family that it's not in the best taste to go full on black. I'm not sure if that's universally accepted but I can see where it's coming from.

I don't know where you read that but it's not true. Unless requested not to wear black, it's the traditional colour to wear and perfectly acceptable to do so.

This John Lewis dress gets great reviews:

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-ruched-cap-sleeve-dress/p110675015?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

We are very close family.

In that case the recommended colour traditionally is purple. In any case, traditionally you should wear dark colours.

I actually think the first dress would be fine with a top underneath. Or a dark coloured jumper over it considering that either a church or a graveyard will be cold, probably even a crematorium chapel won't be that warm in February.

No, there definitely is some truth to it. My gm was the kind of person who went to the funerals of people she respected, but didn't know personally and she wore a purple skirt suit.
Of course this was years ago now.

Nothing wrong with wearing any dark colour and it was your GM's preference not to wear black if she didn't know them personally. However, it wouldn't have been lacking in taste to wear traditional black and I don't know of any etiquette guide that says it would be.

"it was your GM's preference not to wear black if she didn't know them personally."

A choice based on a tradition of wearing purple, not something she just came up with by herself.

Purple is one of the traditional mourning colours so as I said, nothing wrong with it.

I have dress 1. It fits well and is washable.