Thank you for the encouragement! I think I might wear the skirt with a bit of bling.
The birthday girl is his cousin's daughter so likely to be quite a few of his family around and they know him! We'll get the dress suit (bought for a cruise back in 2000 but I don't think they date much!) out of the wardrobe and have a think. Maybe it will only need a new pair of trousers - and his black funeral tie as suggested by
@Ploshkin .
@Cazlyn the external appearance might be Compo but he gets the heebie jeebies at the thought of going into charity shops, let alone buy something in one to wear. I'm happy to do so, if it can be washed.