Is it in poor taste to wear 'statement' jewellery to a funeral?

[Pocketfullofdogtreats]

I'm not even sure what people wear these days, whether formal black is too formal or whether this never changes. (I know there's black and black - black chinos and jeans both looked too casual.)
Anyway, friend's DH has died, funeral coming up, and I'm planning on wearing a black suit jacket and smart black trousers, white linen top and black ankle boots. I do like a brooch and often wear one on jackets & coats. I have a black and silver marcasite one but it's quite big (2 inches long). I don't want to be 'look at me' but OTOH my outfit is hellish boring, although that's not the end of the world, and the brooch would lift it. I could wear a silver necklace instead. Friend is likely to be dressed quite formally. What do you think?

I think it's fine. I wore a very flashy necklace to my MIL's funeral. It was a piece of hers that she had given me - she loved her bling. So the context was slightly different but your brooch sounds a lot more subdued.

do you have a picture of it?

Nothing 'statement' unless the deceased had expressed a wish for some sort of 'theme'.

Better to err on the side of caution in this situation I think. If it was a funeral of your close family member then I'd say wear whatever.

OTOH my outfit is hellish boring

It's a funeral..

Google pictures of QEII at funerals, she normally has a broach on her coat.

Further at the state funeral of the Queen both Queen Camilla and the Duchess of Edinburgh wore broaches.

You'll be fine in your broach.

Yes, I think I’d prefer to look boring than potentially a bit crass, even if only to the odd person. Boring doesn’t matter at a funeral.

www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/20220917151174/royal-mourning-traditional-dress-across-the-years/?viewas=amp

Some pictures to prove that broaches and other jewellery are fine at funerals.

Just a thin chain with a small pendant, so not a statement or eye-catching.

No. Will be leaving the parrot brooch at home 😀

This

It is, yes, although it's more an Art Deco design.
Thanks .

It sounds lovely, I don't see a problem with wearing it at all. Having been to a lot of funerals where I was close to the deceased, though, I will say that I doubt anyone will even notice what you are wearing!

You see, I quite like the idea that people might get a bit dressed up for my funeral. Why not celebrate the deceased by wearing something you consider to be stylish and when did it become the norm to dress soooooo boringly for funerals. We dress up for weddings and other big life events, why not dress up for a funeral.

Thanks. I think I might go for it, even though I'm not a royal 😆
Friend wears bling every day and I'm sure she won't be taking off her engagement ring.

This is a good point, although 'it depends', of course. No-one wants to outshine a bride. Well, some people do! In this case I think there will be some very stylish people there. But still, I want to be sure I don't stand out but without (as a pp said) being mistaken for waiting staff.

I wore my mums chunky gold jewellery to my dad's funeral yesterday. It felt right.
I loved that some people wore bright accessories that my dad would have enjoyed.
And I already can't recall most outfits. Statement jewellery whether brooch or necklace would have been lovely. I'd have been annoyed at a tiara....

I thought it was going to be something like this. Brooch sounds fine.

If you have misgivings about the brooch don't wear it. Best to stay on the safe side as far as funerals go.

Whatever anyone says, there aren't really rules for funerals these days. I would personally avoid bright colours but simple jewellery seems fine.

I'm so sorry about your dad. Xx

Ah no, I save that one for weddings 😉

Update - I wore the brooch, and was happy with it. I think you're so keen to talk to old friends, and everyone is there for the dead person and their family, so you don't really think about what people are wearing. There was someone sitting in front of me wearing beige, and someone else in a very bright jacket, who really did stand out! Quite a lot of blue rather than black, maybe because it was a sunny day. So I hope this is helpful - if you have to go to a funeral, don't stress too much about what to wear!

I think the days of dressing conservatively for a funeral are long gone. It’s even quite unusual to see everyone in black. No-one would bat an eyelid at statement jewellery.

There isn't much more formal a funeral than the Queen's funeral and most of the key women wore brooches or big statement necklaces.

In fact the only one who didn't wear noticeable jewellery was Meghan