What to wear to funeral

[DanceMumTaxi]

I’m going to a funeral this week. I’ve got a black dress, tights and loafers, but the dress is short sleeved so I need a cardigan. I’d like to avoid all black, even the family are unlikely to wear all black, but I’m not sure what colour to go for. I’m a bright winter so all the muted tones look terrible on me and I’m unlikely to wear it again, but something bright will be completely wrong. Any ideas? Would light cream/ecru work? Thanks everyone.

Dark navy perhaps or chocolate brown?

I think you'd get away with a dark jewel colour - burgundy or deep green would be my choice. There's lots of burgundy/maroon in the shops atm

I had thought about burgundy, I just avoid it because I work in a school that has a burgundy blazer so it’s puts me off, but it would go with the black. I find brown really tricky. It’s usually too warm.

not sure about your budget but there is a brown or pale grey here https://www.asos.com/prd/211676970?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

has been in my basket for a while! Any of those colour work work i reckon

The pale grey is lovely, but not big enough. I’m a 16-18. But the colour is nice and definitely something I’d wear again. Budget up to about £40ish

Wear what is comfortable

I attended a funeral this year where the widow was in jeans, white shirt and black jacket
it was right for her situation

dress codes are there to be noted, not obeyed

I would go for something either dark or muted in tone. It's okay for it not to be black: black, brown, burgundy, navy, dark green, charcoal, mid-pale grey, taupe, All fine.

I wore a navy dress and black jacket for a funeral recently. It worked nicely.

M&s, asos will have some options

Is navy ok to wear with black?

absolutely

No, I would just assume you didn’t have a black cardigan so had to wear navy. Navy is one colour to avoid IMO.

Would light cream/ecru work?

I think that would be fine with a black dress.

Lavender is another alternative, if that suits you.

Ah see, this was my worry with navy. Google tells me it’s a new chic way to wear neutrals, but in real life people will think it looks wrong. There’s not a particular dress code, I’m just after something I’ll wear again and I already have the dress.

This set from Next would work and would give you a black cardigan ‘in reserve’ without breaking the bank. I’d get XL if you’re a 16-18 as they are quite close fitting.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/sv297093/v48428

ETA - it’s not going to win any style awards but might do the job.

Why to avoid?

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc147721494

I wouldnt wear navy

I’ve been to a few funerals recently, nobody except family is wearing all black these days, in fact you don’t see much black at all. Would you consider a pattern? Eg Houndstooth in black and white?

I'd look at dark teal, sea-green, darker greens with a slight fleck and so on. As you say, very bright colours can be too strong a contrast with black.

Was my dad’s funeral recently. On the way in/out I only noticed faces, not what anyone was wearing. At the wake I remember a family friend looking beautiful in a pale pink top, and another young friend looking really elegant in navy. We didn’t wear all black, just clothes we felt smart and comfortable in.
I told anyone that asked what to wear “don’t overthink it”. So I’d advise the same to you - buy something you feel comfortable in to wear with the dress you’ve already got, and something you can wear again.

There is nothing wrong with navy and black.

Agree with all the pp that the important thing is that you are there and that there aren’t such strict “rules” about what you are wearing.

having said that, over the years I’ve put together a summer and winter funeral outfit which I tend to only wear to funerals. I suit black and charcoal grey and have a fair bit in my wardrobe anyway, but I quite quickly found that if I wore a favourite piece to a funeral I then associated it with that funeral and it put me off wearing it! I realise that might be quite niche and a me-problem - but it might make it easier to choose a piece that you don’t think you’ll wear much day-to-day iyswim

@DanceMumTaxi I’m a winter and my winter funeral dress is a navy and black dress- navy lace over black.

Thanks!! I thought i was missing out on a precious code re navy and black 🤣

Dress codes are literally there to be obeyed.

Thanks everyone. I’ve ordered an aubergine coloured cardi from Marks. It’ll be fine for the day, but I’ll definitely wear it again.