Gabi Grecko, the 24-year-old girlfriend of millionaire Geoffrey Edelsten, has defended her scantily-clad appearance at the funeral of football legend Tom Hafey.

“I had come here not planning to go to a funeral,” the American model and DJ, who is visiting from New York, told Nine News.

“It was a sad thing, this was a really good friend of Geoff’s.”

The 71-year-old debuted his new girlfriend at the sombre event in Melbourne on Monday.

Grecko faced criticism for her choice of clothing, with many believing her dress, from French designer Hervé Léger, was too revealing for a funeral.

“The malfunction with the cleavage … I have several Hervé Léger dresses and they fit right,” Grecko explained.

“The only black one I have was that one.”

Edelsten has admitted that he is “smitten” with his new partner, telling the Herald Sun: “She’s delightful. I’m very happy.”