What to wear to a funeral in this heat

[Perfectlystill]

I have to go to a funeral next week and don't know what to wear. My usual funeral wear is a smart black long sleeved wool dress and knee high black leather boots, plus a black wool coat, but none of this will work this time.

It will be quite a smart event, but there will be some walking across grass to the churchyard so my shoes in particular need thought.

Has anyone got any ideas about what they'd wear to such an event? I'm really stuck not just for dress but also shoes and tights?

I'm 50, 5'6", and size 12/14. I just want to get it right. Thank you in advance for any thoughts!

Plain black trousers, white or light shirt/linen top, black jacket for church that can be removed afterwards. Black sandals or flat slip on shoes. I'm not sure you need to wear a dress, but a plain black cotton dress and black sandals or "court shoes" would do the job.
(If you don't have black items, navy or grey will be fine).

I'd wear low heeled court shoes and flesh coloured tights with my sleeveless black dress and a grey jacket. Possibly dark grey tights. The dress fabric is quite heavy but it is smart. I'd take my sandals with me so I could ditch the tights either at the wake if appropriate or at least on the way home.

Do you have a dark non wool dress you could wear, with or without a jacket?

I wore a short sleeved navy blue dress for the funeral I went to in the heatwave in July. Then ballet pumps and a light cardigan for inside. Pretty standard for what most others wore. The widow had on a black jumpsuit with short sleeves. Most men a shirt and troussers with a light jacket not suits as it was so hot.

I would buy a light weight black/navy dress something simple that you could wear again. If it has short sleeves you could get away with out a jacket. Flesh coloured thin tights (or stockings as they are cooler imho ) and either flats or court shoes.

I went to a funeral in the June heatwave. I wore an ankle length black skirt and a black silk blouse, with flat black ballet pumps. The chapel was air-conditioned, thankfully, and hopefully if yours is in a stone church it will be fairly cool inside. I would personally go to significant lengths to avoid wearing tights of any kind over 30 degrees, even if it means wearing a longer skirt than you usually would or trousers.

Thanks all for the really helpful advice. The only non-wool black dress I own is a £12.99 beach dress from H&M that I think is just too beachy to pass muster.

I am going to John Lewis today so will look for a black cotton dress that I can wear to work subsequently, and black flats.

Trousers is a good idea that I hadn't even thought of, so if I get stuck on the dress I might wear my black work trousers and look for a smartish black top to go with them.

Thank you

I was at one last week. I wore wide-legged dark grey culottes, a black boatneck top with elbow-length sleeves and black sandals. Under no circumstances would I wear tights of any kind in this heat.

If the focus is re-wearability then don't limit yourself to black, OP. Even at a smart funeral any sober colour is acceptable and as the A/W stuff is starting to arrive in shops you have a good chance of finding something.

Sorry for your loss

I'd be looking for either black/dark linen trousers and a blouse or a cotton dress. I'm unsure of your budget but here are some ideas:

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc148663530
https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-midi-waisted-dress/p/clp60786768#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r4c3
https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-tie-neck-midaxi-waisted-dress/p/clp60720693#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r7c3
https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-v-neck-midi-tiered-dress/p/clp23072516?color=BLACK#intid=pid_pg2pip48g4r6c4%7Cprodflag_Online%20Only

I went to one in the heatwave a month back and wore a black jumpsuit which was quite airy and a pair of black ankle boots, things I already had that were appropriate.
To be honest given the weather I was sort of surprised that most people seemed to be fully covered, hardly any dresses and almost no heels. I couldn’t figure out the shoe situation, I don’t own black sandals and they don’t really feel like an appropriate shoe type to wear to the funeral for some reason, and I don’t really own any ‘shoes’ that are either heels or black.
Hope you find something suitable.

Black lighter dress? Mine is a shift dress, with plain sandals

I'd go with black linen - but I wear a lot of that anyway. Either a dress with sleeves or trousers with a lightweight sleeved top (cotton or silk). No jacket. Flat shoes. Definitely no tights or coat.

I would wear a dark t-shirt and either black or navy trousers.

I would probably wear a black (or navy) cotton poplin or linen-blend shirt-dress, & flat pumps.

Something like this Boden one (minus the belt)?

https://www.boden.com/products/women-grown-on-sleeve-midi-dress-black-d1753blk?variant=43150133166289&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_campid=20226764063&tc_adgroupid=&tc_targetid=&tc_locphys=9208623&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20226765749&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkOvTBhDgARIsAKUNyRvKKM7cmUlqN_qJHD0GCNUCs1pB10lTaio-d_l0PdY5AF3I3vV_bhkaAhDXEALw_wcB

I have these in navy. They look smart with my navy cotton Toast shirt-dress, & are comfy - the gold is a subtle trim.

https://airandgracelondon.com/collections/shop-all/products/anais-black-suede-gold-leather-pointed-t-bar-flats

Another Boden one.

https://www.boden.com/products/women-sarah-cotton-midi-shirt-dress-black-d1747blk?variant=43132134949073&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_campid=20226764063&tc_adgroupid=&tc_targetid=&tc_locphys=9208623&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20226765749&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkOvTBhDgARIsAKUNyRvb3RdFY3wdddeu-XPrCWIHQmgk5YoK6OhudNbFlsvyyXvU3xeHTRQaAj9MEALw_wcB

I would also see no need for tights.

My mother's funeral (a few years ago now) was on a hot day in July. She had specified that nobody should wear black, so I wore a navy dress, and navy very plain sandals. No tights, it's too hot for that! I didn't need any kind of jacket, either.

I tend to wear work clothes - black trousers and a shirt/top.

I would wear thin dark trousers, blouse and low court shoes, then I wouldn't have to think about tights or no tights and you don't need to really style shoes so much with trousers

Black lightweight short sleeve dress with ballet flats.

I’m sure you have done but check that it is a ‘black funeral’.

I was at one yesterday (singing in the choir) a d everyone was in bright summer dresses at the request of the lady’s family. No black to be seen. Which must have made it easier as it was 30+!

Agreed. No chance of me wearing tights in this heat. The last hot weather funeral was my FILs and I wore mid calf length navy dress and chunky sandals.

Just go for comfort. times have changed with the weather and dress codes for funerals have too.

If by “next week” you mean after this weekend (ie not between now and Friday) it’s going to be a lot cooler so you might not have such a problem 🤷‍♀️😆