All the black outfits

My life is much better now I dont have to worry about wearing high heels. Its not a sexist statement to analyse whether high heels are generally for the benefit of men.

GrannyGravy13

I still have a collection of car to bar shoes, very high heels assorted colours and styles not ready to give them up yet.

Love that, car to bar, Grannygravy! Do keep on wearing them.

I'm afraid I've moved on to Pavers and Skechers in the last few years. I do like platform soles though.

On the subject of Carrie's hired dress, I did think she looked very nice. She normally wears a high neckline so I was quite surprised she went for a lower one for a funeral but good luck to her. Renting is a great idea.

If I had to go to a funeral now I would have to buy something, I think. I have hardly any formal clothes since I stopped work as I don't need them.

I still have a collection of car to bar shoes, very high heels assorted colours and styles not ready to give them up yet.

M0nica

Caleo I absolutely agree. I cannot understand in this modern age why any woman would want to wear shoes that hobble and limit them in the way that noble Chinese women were crippled for life by having their feet bound.

I decide in my late teens that I was never going to wear shoes that were not comfortable and I couldn't walk a couple of miles in. This has never precluded me wearing smart or pretty shoes, or even shoes with a heel up to a couple inches high. As long as they were comfortable and I could walk home in them.

I have always been very aware that men like women in high heels because essentially it hobbles them and makes them accessible sex objects.

Cannot agree with the hobbling to make us sex objects. A very sexist statement.
High heels lengthen the leg and flatter the line. Women enjoy wearing them and what is wrong with enjoying one’s femininity? Not everything in life has to be down to earth and practical. What a dull world it would be if that were the case.

I can no longer wear such heels, but manage a kitten heel with a sling back. I also pursued a successful career wearing stiletto heels. Imagine!

I read somewhere that the Queen always took a black ensemble on overseas trips just in case. Maybe the rest of the Royals do too.

I saw an article about Catherine's hat, she wore a black pillbox with a feather to a window just before her own, Autumn Phillips later wore it and Lady Louise wore it to Westminster Hall. So sharing might help...

Sparklefizz

Katherine and Meghan looked fabulous from top to toe as usual.

Loved Charlotte's little hat.

I like that Carrie rents a lot of her clothes - she sets a good example - but I didn't think her outfit was particularly suitable this time.

I really like Lady Louise - she's a very graceful and elegant young woman.

Samantha Cameron looked very smart.

Sarah Brown (Gordon's wife) didn't look her best in a very unflattering too tight too short outfit.

Just my opinions, of course.

We all have different taste ourselves, don’t we, and that influences how we think of others outfits. My favourite outfit was Princess Eugenie, I loved her hat. Her dress had gold buttons which looked nice, I thought Carrie’s was a bit too low, and a bit too bling.

Caleo I absolutely agree. I cannot understand in this modern age why any woman would want to wear shoes that hobble and limit them in the way that noble Chinese women were crippled for life by having their feet bound.

I decide in my late teens that I was never going to wear shoes that were not comfortable and I couldn't walk a couple of miles in. This has never precluded me wearing smart or pretty shoes, or even shoes with a heel up to a couple inches high. As long as they were comfortable and I could walk home in them.

I have always been very aware that men like women in high heels because essentially it hobbles them and makes them accessible sex objects.

One thing that struck me from the newspapers was how few photographs there were of the Queen Consort. She hadn't gone over the top with her outfit and is obviously not in the first flush of youth, but she is married to the king. On such an occasion surely she warrants some recognition.

I read in Jeremy Paxman's autobiography that, in the 1990's, the BBC kept a wardrobe of grey suits, white shirts and black ties (or black shawls for female presenters) to be worn if they had to announce the death of a prominent member of the royal family. They were supposed to keep the key to this wardrobe in their pocket and as soon as they heard the news, they had to get the lift to the 6th floor, unlock the wardrobe and change their clothes while making their way back down again in time to make the announcement! It never actually worked in practice.

Stiletto heels are a symbol of womens' helplessness and consequent inferiority to men.

Princesss Anne and the Muslim woman guest were suitably modestly attired without any ultra feminine nonsense. Queen Camilla had sensible shoes.

I can remember when I was a child the curtains being drawn if it was the funeral of one of the neighbours.

My father was known and respected in the small Highland village where my elderly parent lived. When my father died, my mother was consoled and pleased that all the houses along the funeral route had the blinds down.

Katherine and Meghan looked fabulous from top to toe as usual.

Loved Charlotte's little hat.

I like that Carrie rents a lot of her clothes - she sets a good example - but I didn't think her outfit was particularly suitable this time.

I really like Lady Louise - she's a very graceful and elegant young woman.

Samantha Cameron looked very smart.

Sarah Brown (Gordon's wife) didn't look her best in a very unflattering too tight too short outfit.

Just my opinions, of course.

Athrawes

Where does the idea of wearing black come from? Does anyone know?
I loathe wearing black and have told my family to wear anything except black - it's so draining.

When a family member is no longer with us and we all feel very sad black impacts - in my view - on the lovely and happy occasions we've spent with that person. I've been to several funerals now with mourners not wearing black and to me it was far more acceptable to share the good experiences through our clothes as well as our conversation

Probably from some religion or other, guilt tripping everyone and banning any form of colour that may lift spirits after a death! I'm more a 'celebrate the life' kinda gal meself! I won't have anyone at my sending off probably but if I do , I'd want them to wear orange please........not ALL orange. A flash will do (unless they're feeling orangey that day?)

M0nica

Namsnanny It is a current fashion and young women can be seen wearing these net skirts in all sorts of circumstances, including funerals, where I thought it looked fine as part of a black ensemble.

Fair enough. Fashion changes all the time, I guess I shall have to catch up.

Like MawTheMerrier I still like the idea of black for a funeral, whatever the fashion. Very few people agree with me nowadays. Preferring to let people choose.
I like the idea of tradition and marking out some occasions from normal life.
I've just been watching some snippets of the Royals on TV and apropos above, the (late, sorry) Queen worn top to toe vanilla/white to Charles and Camilla's wedding!
I didn't remember that.

Superstition rather than tradition.

MawtheMerrier you have taken the words out of my mouth, thank you. The ‘signal’ of bereavement is part of the tradition of wearing black and I have no objection to it. It also removes to a great extent the problem of what to wear as it is a sort of uniform.
There is a tradition that it is unlucky to buy new clothes for a funeral.

I cant remember anyone in all black at my mothers funera in 1999. My sister wore grey and I wore purple. I buy very few clothes nowadays and dont think I have anything all black in my wardrobe.

Actually, nanna8, I think it’s a lot less common now. During the past 5 years or so I’ve attended too many old friends’ funerals, and hardly anyone was wearing black at any of them.

I imagine most people have a black outfit handy for funerals, but I expect there was quite a rush to the shops from 'ordinary' people who had been invited to the Queen's funeral. You would want something a bit special for such a once in a lifetime occasion.

I sing in a choir, and we wear black when we perform. Having lost weight since our last concert, pre Covid, I needed a new outfit, but couldn't find anything in the shops. I took a chance and bought online, and was lucky that it fits, and looks good. It will also double as a funeral outfit.

It never used to be 'the thing' to wear black to a wedding, or to emulate the bride by wearing white. Both seem quite commonplace these days. Times change, I suppose.

Wouldn't be an issue for me - I love black and most of my clothes are black. Call me an ageing goth

It was the same with household staff, they were wearing anniversary medals and some were wearing medals of the Royal Victorian Order, an order personal to the monarch, who awards them to members of their Household, for exceptional duty or on retirement.

MerylStreep. The hearse was adapted from a Jaguar by a local coach-building firm in Wigan. Not far from where I live. Apparently they were only told that it was for a Royal family member, but I imagine that they must have guessed.
They did a wonderful job on it, anyway. They must be very proud to have their handiwork used to carry the Queen on her last journey, in front of billions of people worldwide.

I also wonder why Edward's son at the age of 14 had medals

kjmpde

The medals Viscount Severn were not anything to do with military. He was in fact displaying one medal for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and another one for her late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee earlier this year.