Hot summer funeral: what would you wear? - YouLookFab Forum

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Hot summer funeral: what would you wear?

Aziraphale

Veteran

I have a funeral to attend this weekend. It's hot as blazes here (yes, really -- we're calling it Septaugust) and I was trying to decide what to wear that won't cause me to melt in a big sweaty puddle. Lightweight black tops are not a problem, but all my light summer skirts are on the cheerful side. The problem with summer clothes is that they tend not to be in funeral colours or prints, you know?

How do you normally handle summer funerals? Any good tips?

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

qfbrenda

Veteran

I would wear my black knit sleeveless sheath dress with either heels if it's in a church/building, or flats if it's in a cemetery. Do you own a simple black dress?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Aargh, no, only totally inappropriate cocktail dresses.

I do have a simple army green dress in cotton. Would that do?

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Do you have a navy skirt you could pair with the black top & shoes?

missvee

Veteran

I think the green dress would be a good choice. I just attended a summer funeral and I wore a beige skirt and lightweight cream blouse. The other women wore simple dresses in soft or dark colours, lots of soft prints. Nobody was in head to toe black.

Anonymous

I don't see why the green dress wouldn't work. As long as it's a subdued color, it should be fine. As a matter of fact, my older sis wore a green blazer to our mom's funeral. She looked perfectly appropriate because it was a soft olive color. On the other hand, there was a woman at the funeral who chose to wear a bright purple dress. She really stood out wearing that color, but our family was glad she came, so it didn't matter. In the end, it's all about attending, showing your respect, and offering your condolences/sympathy to the family. Don't stress over this!

Queen Mum

Veteran

At the last funeral I attended, I was one of the few in black. You will probably be fine in the green dress, and honestly, you could probably get away with more color than you think. People (around here at least) don't seem to be concerned about keeping funeral dress dark and muted.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think as long as you don't wear colours that positively scream "happy" (like bright yellow or maybe orange) and don't wear cutesy patterns or wild florals, you should be fine. Neutrals of any kind paired with other neutrals makes sense to me.

I have (fortunately) not had a funeral in the summer for a while, but if I did have to go to one, I'd be all set in my simple black jersey sheath. It's a bit on the large side for me so not at all body con; it's super cool, and it is easy-peasy to wear.

In truth, people are not looking at what you wear. They are looking at the fact that you are there to show support. That is what really matters.

Echo

Veteran

I agree that any soft or muted colour would be fine. I was at a funeral this past summer, and it would appear that a lot of the dress expectations have gone out the window, as I saw everything from bright-bright colours to short skirts, etc. The main idea is just to make sure you aren't wearing a look-at-me outfit that distracts from the focus or sobriety of the occasion. Black is a sure thing when it comes to a funeral, but almost any other colour will work, too, provided its tone and intensity aren't too strong.

Anonymous

Do you have any black or grey skirts straight skirts that aren't wool? I usually wear one of those with a black top and black sandals. As long as your green dress isn't a bright, flirty sundress, it'll probably hit the right note.

Anonymous

My summer funeral wear is a black or navy sheath dress with a cropped silk cardi in navy or dark grey. Your olive dress sounds fine of it's modest.

Glory

Veteran

Do you have a picture of the green dress? That would help quite a bit.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thank you for all your suggestions. You are right; at a funeral, nobody is looking at your clothes --except if you look inappropriate! Which is what I want to avoid. I just want to look subdued and blend in. I don't need to be in head-to-toe black. It's silly, because I have so many dark, subdued colours in my wardrobe, but so much of it is not what I'd wear to a funeral because of the way it's cut, or the fabric it's made of, and so on. And the stuff I have that is totally, 100% funeral-appropriate is going to be uncomfortably warm.

I think the green dress will be OK. It's military green (olive), which is perfectly subdued. It's just a short-sleeve cotton wrap-style dress, but it's cut modestly -- my back and shoulders are completely covered, as well as half of my upper arms, and the vee neck is not low. I have black pumps that will do nicely. Do you think I must wear hose, or can I get away with bare legs?

ironkurtin

Veteran

Oh, I'd think bare legs would be OK if it is so hot.

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm with Suz and others that it's more about the total outfit than any one color. It's not a party. So a simple, classic outfit, not "look at me" , not, I feel so perky today, is my idea, whether pants or dresses. I like to err on side of not looking like I am trying to be at the forefront of fashion (that's so easy for me!) . But, you know, not ALGO and especially if that's not your everyday style. If the green dress is a classic style and worn with simple accessories--classic metals or subdued colors, simple neutral accessories--that would look very appropriate. Not the statement necklace time, for me (or, not a big statement!) or the red patent pumps. Pastels or light colors to me are perfectly acceptable, again, if not all party'd up, and it can be pretty easy to tone them down with more neutral or natural accessories rather than go toward the sugary side. I guess I would avoid really total white outfit, but linen-y colors, cream, taupe all are fine, in my book, for summer and very hot weather funerals. The reverse side is, I wouldn't wear black if it looked like I a made a huge effort just to wear something black that was not actually attractive on me or as appropriate (simple, etc).

rachylou

Veteran

Lavender is a mourning color (strictly speaking, something like year 2 of mourning). I've worn a lavender cotton skirt in tropical climes. The olive green sounds appropriate to me.