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Is it bad manners to attend a funeral bare-legged in hot weather?

(60 Posts)
Dempie55 Sat 27-Aug-22 15:05:23

I need a quick response on this one (because I might have to nip out to buy tights!) I will be attending a funeral at a crematorium in SE England next week, and the weather forecast is HOT.

I will be wearing a black midi dress and low-heeled black shoes. (No coat or jacket) I hate tights at the best of times, and in hot weather, yuck. But I can hear my mother's voice in my ear...."And did you see that one with the bare legs - at a FUNERAL!" I admit I tutted when Megan Markle showed up at Royal events with no hosiery, am I now a hypocrite? Would you wear tights as a point of etiquette?

Greenfinch Sat 27-Aug-22 15:11:40

I don’t think it is bad manners at all. I am going to a funeral on Tuesday in SE England and will certainly not be wearing tights. I will wear a black top,a black and white skirt and black sandals.

BlueBelle Sat 27-Aug-22 15:14:05

Of course not who on earth will be looking at your legs

Barmeyoldbat Sat 27-Aug-22 15:29:55

No is the simple answer

AGAA4 Sat 27-Aug-22 15:33:04

It's fine to have bare legs on a hot day even at a funeral.

Nannagarra Sat 27-Aug-22 15:34:50

If I saw you without tights at a funeral I wouldn’t think anything was wrong. Your outfit is traditional and respectful. Why worry and suffer the heat?
Goodness, I’ve seen men in the football kit favoured by the deceased.

Patsy70 Sat 27-Aug-22 16:13:04

Not at all Dempie55. I recently wore a midi dress to a funeral with bare legs, and didn’t feel awkward in the least. I hate tights too!

Concordia Sat 27-Aug-22 16:19:55

I wouldn't be wearing tights. (But then, I never do. Horrid things).

Yammy Sat 27-Aug-22 16:24:38

No it's not bad manners just old fashioned.You will barely see your legs.

Lathyrus Sat 27-Aug-22 16:31:13

I went to one last week where both men and women were wearing shorts and t shirts. The relatives did say formal dress wasn’t necessary but I admit I was taken aback.

I didn’t wear tights though?

Mapleleaf Sat 27-Aug-22 16:41:19

No, not a problem. Not sure why you brought Meghan into this though.

Oldbat1 Sat 27-Aug-22 16:43:59

Some tights/stockings are so sheer you wouldn’t know person was wearing any. Having said that I honestly couldn’t be fussed at what folk were wearing. Times thankfully have changed. Wear what you want and are comfortable with.

Nannarose Sat 27-Aug-22 16:45:12

Honestly, it depends on your relationship with the deceased and their close family. I think that if you know them well, and know that they are not formal people, then you wouldn't be asking! I wouldn't expect anyone to be uncomfortable at any funeral I had any say in.

So, if you do know them well and have any doubts, wear the tights - you can always take them off later.
If you are going for some sort of obligation to someone you don't know well, can you contact someone a bit closer to ask?

And - always trust gransnet for a different way of looking at the problem - I would wear loose-ish dark trousers (not sure if that's an option)

Hope it goes well

Serendipity22 Sat 27-Aug-22 16:53:05

I wouldnt have thought it was bad manners at all.

In my view, the fact you are attending is more important than whether you are wearing tights or not.

Dinahmo Sat 27-Aug-22 17:00:00

I went to a funeral about 2 months ago and no one was wearing black. Everybody was wearing ordinary clothes, even the close family - all were neat and tidy and no one was scruffy.

eazybee Sat 27-Aug-22 17:09:51

Wear what you think is right.
I think you feel uncomfortable at the thought of being bare-legged at a funeral, (a formal occasion) which is why you have asked the question, so why not have an emergency pair in case at the last moment you feel they are necessary.

Callistemon21 Sat 27-Aug-22 17:16:14

I went to the funeral of a friend last year on a very hot day and didn't wear tights.
As DH said, "no-one will be looking at you".

Ladyleftfieldlover Sat 27-Aug-22 17:22:18

The last time I wore tights was to a funeral! It was December and freezing cold. I wore a coat too. As others have said, who would be looking at your legs anyway.

SiobhanSharpe Sat 27-Aug-22 17:26:53

I loathe tights and could not envisage any event when
I would wear them.
I think the so-called royal etiquette that royal women must always wear tights or stockings is ridiculously outdated and I'm very pleased to see younger members don't always comply.
(I'm sure Diana sometimes went barelegged too. )

Mollygo Sat 27-Aug-22 17:31:01

No. If the people at the funeral would be looking at your legs and commenting, the bad manners would be all theirs.

M0nica Sat 27-Aug-22 17:44:13

No.

Baggs Sat 27-Aug-22 17:47:05

If you're really worried (as opposed to pretending it's a potential problem), wear trousers.

Greyduster Sat 27-Aug-22 18:44:41

When we held a funeral recently I didn’t care what people wore - I was just heartened that so many came!

Caleo Sat 27-Aug-22 18:46:16

It depends on who is judging you and whether or not you care.

Grannyben Sat 27-Aug-22 18:47:23

Its just me then! For some reason I wouldn't dream of going to a funeral without the dreaded rights on. Sheer natural coloured in the spring and summer or darker with nice black patent shoes in autumn and winter.
There's just no reason for it and I wouldn't dream of looking at anyone else's legs to see if they were bare or not.