Just grass? My FIL was buried during a huge rain storm and many of the mourners were stepping through mud up to their ankles. That and its April; the ground is softer than February and wetter than June. Unless you like wriggling your toes in mud and composted dead people, go formal. You can always throw the shoes out later ‘in grief’.
I’ve worn open-toed shoes to funerals. Like people already pointed out-no one’s going to be paying attention to her feet.
And not to be snarky, but I think I know a wee bit more about funeral etiquette than most here.
Yeah, my granny always said only little girls and whores go barelegged. Of course, my granny is over a hundred, and also dead. That’s one fashion thing that has indeed changed, and not just “now you can”, it’s “now you can and you better not not!”
Better than open toad shoes…
It would never have occurred to me that open-toed shoes were inappropriate for any occasion except as a safety concern. I don’t think the color of toenail polish is going to matter either.
I grew up with my mother wearing hose with open-toed shoes all the time, so I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to do that. I’m not surprised though – I always thought it looked weird. My mom isn’t a fashion-aware person.
Jeans, sneakers, and t-shirts will be mandatory at my funeral.
Would you wear open toed shoes to a business meeting or a job interview? Honestly, the nerve of some people! Anything else…well, I guess that’s just how you was raised.
I will introduce you to “hose in a can” - or possibly some Jergen’s suntan lotion. Both are good when you’ll have a little bit of leg showing but hose are not an option, like open toes or dressy sandals. Then we will buy peep-toe shoes to start off…
Next on my agenda - talking to people who insist on going out in sandals or dress shoes without having the decency to at least cut their toenails…
Only if it’s an open casket.
No to an interview, but certainly yes to a business meeting.
About the only time that I’ll put on hose is for a funeral (not even for a job interview).
Of course, I would never wear hose with open toed shoes, ergo; your shoes would not be an option. Personally, I would view this as an opportunity to go shoe shopping; however, I recognize that having to fly in from Japan for a funeral may have left funds a bit tight.
So what I’m trying to say is go shoe shopping! Or just wear your open toed shoes, and be content knowing that very few people will even notice, and those that do will be provided with something to gossip about - namely your nude feet. I mean, having the opportunity to outrage distantly related matrons with your nude feet seems like an option too appealing to pass up.
I’m sorry to hear about your FIL though. That sucks.
Oh, no, honey. No no. The days of people seeing my toes in public are gone with the wind! I don’t want to scare folks. 
Renee, I’m sorry about your FIL as well. Also that hideously long flight from Tokyo. I hope it goes alright. Pardon my manners for not mentioning that earlier.
Oh, all right then. Opinion dismissed.
Perhaps I’ve known too many small minded people.
“And did you see the shoes she wore to that funeral?”
It just seems odd. If it’s warm enough to wear sandals, it’s too warm for pantyhose.
…yes?
My mother raised me to wear comfortable, classic, attractive shoes.
I live in Austin. Luckily I work in a rather casual “don’t come to work naked” environment, so it’s these for fancy and these for everyday. Black Doc Marten shoes or black or brown Skechers for colder weather.
I have worn the first of the above to two funerals and one wedding. Wet funerals get the Docs, usually.
If you don’t like my shoes, get me some new ones. Be sure to get me new shoes that don’t wear out in a month, don’t slip on wet pavement, have heels no higher than perhaps an inch, and will fit my duck feet (very wide toe bed, very narrow heel) without giving me blisters? Bonus points if I don’t have to wear socks to make my feet uncomfortably hot and sweaty in Texas heat.
You ain’t kiddin’. Apparently that has never been a good excuse here, or else everything would come to a standstill in summer.
Back in the day, when I was at University, my attire was usually jeans, Tshirt, & tennis shoes. However, there was a large contingent of students who dressed nicely for class. For guys this meant khakis and button-downs (polo shirts at the least). For girls that meant dresses, hose, heels, makeup, jewelry, etc. etc. You haven’t lived until you’ve been crowded off the sidewalk by a gaggle of giggling sorority sisters prancing along in hose & heels on a 100-degree sultry July afternoon. There just aren’t enough WTF’s in the world.
I’m glad to know it’s over now.
Alice, shoe maven of the SDMB, has spoken.
(I do suspect t that for Alice, all occations are excuses to go shoe shopping, however.)
I believe that I share this title with tremorviolet.
Yes, that is true. Bad day at work? Shoe shopping! Good day at work? Shoe shopping? Funeral? Shoe Shopping! 3rd Tuesday of the month? Any month? SHOE SHOPPING!!! Post on the SDMB? Well shoe shopping, of course! It’s a bit of a thing with me.