Kelly Ripa has already decided who will dress her for her funeral—and it definitely will not be her husband, Mark Consuelos. The talk show host has revealed a surprisingly detailed vision for her hypothetical 'FOMO funeral', including a destination celebration where she would be alive to experience the event herself.
While Ripa is happy for longtime Live With Kelly and Mark producer Michael Gelman to organise the occasion, she has drawn one very firm line around the wardrobe. Consuelos can deliver the eulogy and 'say nice things', but when it comes to her outfit, Ripa wants her stylist firmly in control.
Kelly Ripa Has One Strict Fashion Rule
Ripa discussed her unusual funeral plans during the 7 October episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, after she and Consuelos spoke about a woman who held her own funeral while she was still alive. The idea immediately appealed to Ripa, who told Gelman: 'I'll let you throw my funeral, but I've got some requests.' Her first request was the location. 'It's going to be a destination,' she said.
But when Consuelos asked whether he would be responsible for getting her dressed, Ripa was quick to shut the idea down. 'No! If Gelman is throwing my funeral, my stylist is getting me dressed,' she said. Ripa then reminded her husband that they had 'already discussed' why he 'should never get me dressed for anything'. And she has a rather memorable story to back up that rule.
The Hospital Outfit Mark Will Never Live Down
Ripa's objection stems from an incident she previously detailed in her 2022 memoir, Live Wire. After she passed out and Consuelos called 911, he also took responsibility for getting her dressed before she went to hospital.
According to Ripa, his choice of clothing was far from what she would have selected for herself. The outfit included a green leotard, soccer trousers and red patent leather high heels. Looking back on the experience, Ripa joked: 'I sailed in right past the gunshot victims because I looked so bad.'
The story has now become part of the couple's running joke about Consuelos' styling abilities. And it also explains why Ripa was so determined that her husband would have no role in selecting her final look. For Ripa, even a hypothetical funeral requires a professional approach to fashion.
She Already Has Her Funeral Dress
This is not the first time Ripa has revealed that she has thought about her funeral wardrobe. In 2024, she disclosed on Live that she already had a dress stored in the back of her wardrobe specifically for the occasion. The dress is an 'elegant' Dolce & Gabbana design that she had owned for around a decade.
At the time, Ripa explained that having the dress ready would prevent Consuelos from choosing something she considered inappropriate. Her concerns were apparently well founded, given the hospital outfit that has since become a memorable part of their marital banter. The detail adds a distinctly fashion-focused twist to Ripa's latest comments. Her funeral may be imaginary, but the outfit planning is apparently very real.
Mark Can Handle the Eulogy
Although Consuelos has been removed from wardrobe duties, Ripa has not excluded him from the ceremony altogether. Instead, she assigned him a role more suited to him.
'Put everybody in charge of what they're typically in charge of,' Ripa explained. 'Everybody has their typical jobs. You be there, you eulogise, say nice things.'
The exchange captures the playful dynamic between the longtime couple, who have been married for 30 years. Ripa's imaginary funeral is less about sombre preparation and more about making sure every detail goes exactly as she wants. And there is one final detail that makes the entire plan a little more unusual.
The 'FOMO Funeral' Explained
Ripa does not actually want to miss her own celebration. 'And I'm going to be there, because I'm alive,' she told Consuelos, before explaining: 'This is the FOMO funeral.'
The concept was inspired by the woman they had been discussing, who organised a funeral-style celebration while still alive so she could hear what people would say about her. For Ripa, that means a destination event, Gelman in charge of the overall organisation, her stylist responsible for the outfit and Consuelos delivering the eulogy.
It is an unusually specific plan—but perhaps the most important fashion decision has already been made. Ripa has made it abundantly clear that when her hypothetical final look arrives, Consuelos will be nowhere near the wardrobe. After the green leotard, soccer trousers and red heels, she is apparently not taking any chances.
