Posted: 1/6/2013 5:52:46 PM EDT
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Hey everyone,
So I need everyone's opinion on best clothes to wear for carry. Here's my thing I do enjoy wearing express jeans and express 1mx button down shirts...i feel like its not the best way to go and that even my large button downs arent big enough to carry a full size 1911. I'm 5'8 about 200 lbs (a little soggy in the middle and working on it) wear 36" waist jeans and its a good fit with a gun IWB. I'm using a Milt Spark VM2 for the 1911 and a beltman belt with a comptac spare mag carrier. I feel like the jeans might not be the best as they ride low.... Open to suggestions... before people say dress like a man....I don't like to wear my combat boots and carhart everyday...to work. |
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I wear jeans all the time without issue. I wear Levi 505s about 2" bigger than I actually am, and I can (and have) wear a gun all day long in them.
The key is your shirt. Large & baggy, I usually go with an XL shirt but I buy all mine 2XL. I'd rather look fat than armed. |
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Tommy Bahama button down shirts will conceal a large frame handgun without any problem, I don't even buy them a size larger.
Pants and shorts? whatever feels comfortable. A good belt and holster are the keys to comfort and successful concealment, I walk around all day wearing a large frame pistol under only shorts and a colored tee shirt. |
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Low rise pants only complicate things a little, mostly that they neccesitate a longer shirt and can might effect comfort depending on where you carry the gun.
My suggestion would be to try a size larger shirt, and maybe a layer under it if printing is the issue. You should be able to make it work, I'd put the gun on and go try on some shirts of various styles/sizes on, maybe even some pants. Remember unless someone is really looking for a gun an occasional corner bump appearing on your shirt will probably not be noticed, or recognized, the main concern for me, isn't printing, but the shirt riding up during movement and gun being exposed, really limits my shirt choices due to my height/torso length. |
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The only changes in clothing I made was +1" in the pants and I got a heavy leather belt.
95% of the time im in a tucked in button down shirt and jeans carrying a Ruger compact. Honestly, your going to just have to see what works for you. For me and my body type I had to change very little. I actually dress MUCH nicer since I started carrying with no ill effects. Id also say that 50-60% of my dress shirts ARE fitted. There are certain stores and brands which fit me well and others who dont. Take your gun "shopping" with you. A good belt, a good holster, and finding your "sweet spot" for placement can make alot of problems go away. I also carry a 5" 1911 OWB but concealed in either a t-shirt or untucked short sleeve button up. Consider me not in the "big and baggy" camp 
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I dont understand people who go out of their way to dress around a gun. Then you don't really understand how to conceal a handgun. In some states, failure to do so is a felony. If I intend to conceal, I won't half-ass it. You dont need an XXXXL shirt and 5.11 pants to conceal a handgun. Plenty of people do it with jeans and a shirt. |
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I dont understand people who go out of their way to dress around a gun. Then you don't really understand how to conceal a handgun. In some states, failure to do so is a felony. If I intend to conceal, I won't half-ass it. You dont need an XXXXL shirt and 5.11 pants to conceal a handgun. Plenty of people do it with jeans and a shirt. +1 But there are folks out there who don't care if they are 'made' every once in a while. Those are the ones, typically, who don't understand those who want to carry but can't risk being made in work or social environments. |
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I dont understand people who go out of their way to dress around a gun. Then you don't really understand how to conceal a handgun. In some states, failure to do so is a felony. If I intend to conceal, I won't half-ass it. You dont need an XXXXL shirt and 5.11 pants to conceal a handgun. Plenty of people do it with jeans and a shirt. I do too. Daily. But I still pick shirts and jeans specifically so they will cover my pistol. So if you're going to CONCEALED carry, you HAVE to dress around the gun (longer shirts and bigger waistband for IWB, for example) or risk being outed. |
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I wear jeans all the time without issue. I wear Levi 505s about 2" bigger than I actually am, and I can (and have) wear a gun all day long in them. The key is your shirt. Large & baggy, I usually go with an XL shirt but I buy all mine 2XL. I'd rather look fat than armed. This is how I am 90% of the time when not working. We had some folks over on Friday night and I was not wearing my pistol. One of the folks said, "Dang, have you lost weight?" Guess I have been doing a good job of concealing it. 
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Flannels work great. Theyre pretty loose and the pattern seems to help hide printing. I just usually wear jeans one size bigger. Great in the winter time, though I'm starting to like the 1/4 zip sweaters--little classier look and equally concealable. Most of those are a thick cotton knit that covers like a dream. Jury's still out on the performance knits in my mind, I think those tend to print too much. |
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Same here. With flannel shirt in winter and demin in summer. Sometimes in real warm weather I have some real loose t-sirts and just use them untucked. Quoted:
For me in Florida the best carry clothes tend to be: -Jeans -T-shirt -Unbuttoned shirt If I feel the need to button my shirt down, I'll leave the last button on the bottom undone to keep it from pulling too tightly around the gun and allowing ease of draw. |
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I am guessing most of the clothes you have now will work just fine. The only shirts that will not work are tight or form fitting shirts. I CC my Glock 23 here in Bama with my home-made kydex tuckable holster and tucked in tee shirts, with shorts or jeans. It is actually easier to conceal, for me, with a tucked in shirt, than untucked. Have you tried a tuckable holster?
You stated "even my large button downs aren't big enough to carry a full size 1911" what is showing and when? what position are you carrying? I feel 4:30 or 5 o'clock hide a big gun better than 3 or 3:30. Are you new to CC? I know when I first started carrying years ago, I was paranoid about people seeing it if it bumped out under my shirt a little. Now after years of carrying I feel I could wear a skin tight under armour tee-shirt and 99% of the sheepeople would never notice. 
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| My work attire is a pair of pleated front Dockers and a button-down collar shirt. I carry a Kahr CW40 in a Galco King Tuck holster. You have to use a sturdy belt which in a narrower style that looks good and goes with dressier clothes and will cost you a pretty penny. I use the same holster with jeans if I'm wearing a tucked in shirt. I have a nice IWB Stoner Leather holster for when I'm untucked - its a bit more comfortable and much easier on/off. Extra mag is in my left front pocket. I carry every day, everywhere (except schools and govt bldgs). If I have pants on, I have a gun. Before I carried, I worried about people noticing I had a gun. The best thing you can do is carry all the time. In about 2 weeks, you will feel odd when you aren't carrying. People do not notice if you choose your gear well. No one has ever "made" me that I'm aware of. |
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I've been carrying a G17 daily for the past year. I use a Raven Concealment Vanguard2 and I wear very form fitting and dare I say fashionable clothing. Oftentimes with a three-piece suit minus the jacket. A fitted dress vest over a dress shirt with suit trousers conceals amazingly well even with the large handgun. I've never been made nor has anyone even suspected that anything was amiss. Granted my body shape works well with AIWB carry to begin with, and the additional layers make concealing easier still. My draw is still extremely quick as well, approximately the same as any other draw from concealment.
Proof that you don't have to dress like a slob to go about your day armed and protected. |
| Okay, asking for some pointers here. I'm 5'10", 230 lbs. and wear leather suspenders because they help hold up my jeans. I'm sixty-four and have the older guy paunch, but not terribly bad. What would be the best way for me to conceal a Colt New Agent. I've just gotten my chl in Texas and still haven't carried,waiting for the actual license. Any advise? |
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Okay, asking for some pointers here. I'm 5'10", 230 lbs. and wear leather suspenders because they help hold up my jeans. I'm sixty-four and have the older guy paunch, but not terribly bad. What would be the best way for me to conceal a Colt New Agent. I've just gotten my chl in Texas and still haven't carried,waiting for the actual license. Any advise? Probably either going to have to either ditch the suspenders (since a shirt has be tucked in under that or wear them under a cover shirt. Probably an OWB holster at about 3:30-4:00, or maybe pocket carry in the front pocket of your jeans? Another option is maybe something like a Galco King Tuck? The problem with that is the suspenders will probably cause your pistol to print pretty badly as they lay the shirt flat around the pistol. |
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Okay, asking for some pointers here. I'm 5'10", 230 lbs. and wear leather suspenders because they help hold up my jeans. I'm sixty-four and have the older guy paunch, but not terribly bad. What would be the best way for me to conceal a Colt New Agent. I've just gotten my chl in Texas and still haven't carried,waiting for the actual license. Any advise? Probably either going to have to either ditch the suspenders (since a shirt has be tucked in under that or wear them under a cover shirt. Probably an OWB holster at about 3:30-4:00, or maybe pocket carry in the front pocket of your jeans? Another option is maybe something like a Galco King Tuck? The problem with that is the suspenders will probably cause your pistol to print pretty badly as they lay the shirt flat around the pistol. That's why lately I've began to think about AIWB carry. I've seen one holster (system) where it was easily concealed. Course this takes a lot of consideration to do. Just hate to start having to pull up my jeans up all the time again as I have gotten used to suspenders over the years. Well, expermentation may be required. Thanks for the response. |
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I have been made a couple of times, not because of bad clothes choice but because if you're moving around doing a lot sometimes your shirt will move and get stuck etc.
I love the kingtuck, my buddy tried mine out tonight and ordered one while we were hanging out he liked it so much. I'm a really big (read overweight) guy and it's usually a bit easier for me to conceal than my skinny buddies, but when you first start carrying you feel like everybody is seeing it and looking for the bulge. That's just not the case, you're self concious about it but really most epopel that notice a lump aren't going to know what it is or jump straight to gun. button front shirts with straight hems that you can leave untucked are the best, baggy long t-shirts serve well in the summer. I need better belts, but my biggest enemy is my big gut helping to slide everything down my hips more. another note on the kingtuck if you don't know already, you can tuck your shirt in with it on, it has the best clips/hooks I've seen. I'm gonna have to try a crossbreed for another handgun because Galco doesn't make the KT for it. They're supposed to be good too (the crossbreed) and there is a company called hidden hybrid that makes one that is same basic concept but can also be worn OWB, I've not tried it but find it intriguing. weather wise if you can get away with heavier clothes more often you can go underarm with a snap button front shirt, I have a buddy that does that and the gun completely disappears. Red |
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Okay, asking for some pointers here. I'm 5'10", 230 lbs. and wear leather suspenders because they help hold up my jeans. I'm sixty-four and have the older guy paunch, but not terribly bad. What would be the best way for me to conceal a Colt New Agent. I've just gotten my chl in Texas and still haven't carried,waiting for the actual license. Any advise? Probably either going to have to either ditch the suspenders (since a shirt has be tucked in under that or wear them under a cover shirt. Probably an OWB holster at about 3:30-4:00, or maybe pocket carry in the front pocket of your jeans? Another option is maybe something like a Galco King Tuck? The problem with that is the suspenders will probably cause your pistol to print pretty badly as they lay the shirt flat around the pistol. Checked out that website and impressed with what I saw. Will have to contact them. Do you feel comfortable with the end of the pistol being exposed the way it is? Does it hinder your draw in any way? |
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Okay, asking for some pointers here. I'm 5'10", 230 lbs. and wear leather suspenders because they help hold up my jeans. I'm sixty-four and have the older guy paunch, but not terribly bad. What would be the best way for me to conceal a Colt New Agent. I've just gotten my chl in Texas and still haven't carried,waiting for the actual license. Any advise? Probably either going to have to either ditch the suspenders (since a shirt has be tucked in under that or wear them under a cover shirt. Probably an OWB holster at about 3:30-4:00, or maybe pocket carry in the front pocket of your jeans? Another option is maybe something like a Galco King Tuck? The problem with that is the suspenders will probably cause your pistol to print pretty badly as they lay the shirt flat around the pistol. Checked out that website and impressed with what I saw. Will have to contact them. Do you feel comfortable with the end of the pistol being exposed the way it is? Does it hinder your draw in any way? I actually don't use one. I can't carry at work (active-duty .mil), so 100% of my carry is in jeans and a t-shirt. The recommendation is from me saying "what would I try if I were in that situation?" |
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Okay, asking for some pointers here. I'm 5'10", 230 lbs. and wear leather suspenders because they help hold up my jeans. I'm sixty-four and have the older guy paunch, but not terribly bad. What would be the best way for me to conceal a Colt New Agent. I've just gotten my chl in Texas and still haven't carried,waiting for the actual license. Any advise? If you want to keep the suspenders youll need to tuck in your shirt. This means youll need: A tuckable IWB holster like a Kholster or Crossbreed A stiff leather belt A button up shirt or t-shirt with enough "extra" room to break up the print. Ditching the suspenders gives you the option of just letting an untucked shirt hang over your gun. IWB holsters are still the preferred choice but they dont have to be tuckable. A good high ride OWB may also suit you if your worried about your extra um....you....making IWB carry uncomfortable. |