Dressing around the gun

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gazpacho

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One of the mantras you frequently come across when discussing CCW is that you dress around the gun, not choose a gun that fits you mode of dress.

What I would like to discuss are those clothes, including specific brands, you use to conceal your carry weapon?

I like to choose clothes that DON'T look tactical. Three pieces I rely heavily upon come from the Duluth Trading Company.

Men's Lifetime Belt. This is a seriously sturdy belt that can secure a holstered duty weapon without any problem. It is also a nice simple dress belt.

Long Tail T-Shirt. They make a number of shirts that are 3" longer in the tail. They are an excellent for draping over your sidearm.

7 Pocket Ballroom Jeans. Basically heavy duty carpenter jeans. The exception here is that the front pocket material is a heavy duty cloth that can take a lot of punishment. If you pocket carry, the dual layer of denim and the heavy pocket go the extra step in obscuring the handgun printing. The two side tool pockets make excellent magazine pockets.

These all work well for me, but I'd like ideas for expanding my wardrobe, so what works for everyone else?
 
I don't dress around the gun and I don't choose a gun for the way I'm dressed. I put on whatever gun is comfortable and effective. The law here allows concealed carry with a license, it doesn't specify how concealed it needs to be. In the winter that means my overcoat will easily conceal my 1911 and when I get inside (restaurant, long visit to a retail store, etc.) and remove it, I'm carrying openly. No drama.
 
I mainly pocket carry a PM45 which is a little big for pocket carry. So when I buy pants I always check the pocket depth. I normally buy Carhart or Duluth pants of some kind because they seem to have deep pockets. I also have some Wrangler carpenter pants that have pretty deep pockets but they don't hold up like the Carhart and Duluth pants so I probably want buy any more.

I have also noticed that ankle holsters are more confront able higher on the ankle so a tall work boot does great for that, based on my very limited experience with ankle holsters.
 
Carhartt double front work dungarees and T-shirts most of the time. Also slacks with button-downs and cargo pants or shorts with aloha shirts. :D I've carried IWB daily long enough that all of my clothes are sized to fit perfectly while carrying. It's funny that none of my pants fit without my .45 and reload.
 
Three pieces I rely heavily upon come from the Duluth Trading Company.
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Duluth Trading's quality is generally pretty high. I gave the company a try because its catalogue illustrations display some actual creativity and technical skill, and haven't been disappointed.

Ultra-stylish old geezer than I've become, I tend to rely on pocket carry in the winter and open carry much of the rest of the time.
 
Primary two "dressing around the gun" ideas I keep in mind are; pleated-front khaki pants (pleat drape hide any pocket carry print-thru better & the pockets are generally more open-topped for draw speed) and adding an inch to the waist-size to allow for my IWB holsters.
 
Denim or any other article of a thick material are better at masking the outline of a holster. As shirts go, a loose enough shirt with IWB works well enough.
 
In my area of Texas, a t-shirt and square-hemmed cover shirt work best, for me. I carry IWB with suspenders most of the time.
I'm looking at upgrading my trouser selection, as I'll be starting pocket carry of a D-frame Colt. I wear khaki's at work and will be checking out the suggestions on this thread and others.
 
Carhartt "Hamilton Pants" and cargo pants are very good CCW garments. They are made of heavier material and have more belt loops (this helps to support the weight of a belt holstered gun) and deeper pockets for your pocket gun or whatever else you put in your pockets. For IWB carry you want them to fit loosely around your waist, going up one size if necessary, or it will be too tight when you stuff a gun and holster in there. For shirts, I like the slightly baggy, long/square-hemmed tailed type often called a "camp shirt." The "safari shirt" from Cabela's is also very good. If carrying IWB I want an undershirt between the gun butt and my skin.

Sometimes, though, the mode of dress is forced upon you, and you want a gun that fits around your clothing.
 
Dickies work shirts in black are very nice for covering my OWB holster and gun. They seem to be just a tad longer than most others.
 
Great thread.

These No-Polo shirts by Duluth Trading Co seem pretty great. Anyone wear em when carrying IWB? Seems like they would work very well, and polo shirts are something I could get into wearing regularly. Been planning on dressing a notch higher anyway.

Getting tired of jeans and a t-shirt...

Also, I've often heard/read that patterned shirts hide IWB carry much more effectively than solid colors. Thoughts on that? Maybe a flannel would be good.
 
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Printed shirts certainly cover better than plain shirts or T shirts. However, in my 21 years of daily concealed carry, I've come to the conclusion that nobody notices a printing weapon almost no matter how you dress or move. If you carry IWB with an untucked shirt it doesn't matter much what the shirt is, as long as it's loose enough to hang freely. I would avoid any shirt that's white or a light color unless it's heavy fabric or has a pattern, and is fairly loose fitting. Also, if you're young or young-ish the Fashion Police are likely to ticket you if you're shirt is tucked in! :neener:
 
Mr.510 said:
Also, if you're young or young-ish the Fashion Police are likely to ticket you if you're shirt is tucked in! :neener:
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Meh. Nothing wrong with looking just a tad more professional than the average joe. A polo tucked into khakis or a nice pair of jeans is a classy balance, IMO.
 
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Dressing around the gun means:

1. A suitable holster. I make my own tuckable holster for my M1911.

2. A good belt. Right now that's a Tex-Tan belt that is a real winner.

3. Wearing loose, not tight clothes.
 
I don't like golf...but I love the "new" synthetic golf polos. They're classy, cheap, don't wrinkle, cool in the Tx. summer, and are designed to be un-tucked. The material seems to drape well over a grip. I can actually carry an OWB holster under them.
 
5:11 and that ilk

I wear what are called BDU style pants.

I am over 60 and no one thinks they are tacticool pants on me.

Just PRESSED slacks that look dressy.

I also have the Deluth jeans and they are HEAVY duty and are easy to edc in.

LOOSE clothing is THE key and I am not a fashion plate,but comfortable.

I carry a Glock 23 and a BUG with spare mag and I love lots of pocket space for the rest of my tools/gear.

Guess I could go with a "european man bag" but just not my style,besides I cant walk and laugh at myself.
 
I wear dockers during the week and jeans or cargo pants on the weekend. A loose fitting polo or t-shirt on top seems to do the trick for IWB carry.
 
They are no longer made, but you can still find them if you look. Woolworth and Eotac (separate companies) both had a line of clothing called "Operator Grade" They are hands down the most comfortable pants for concealed carry. Large and reinforced belt loops (with the loops placed for proper holster wear, NOT like the 5.11) They feature really deep rear pockets, cut for knife carry, with a separate pocket specifically for a wallet. On the legs, there are cargo pockets large enough for two 30 round AR magazines. (These are like the 5.11 pants, but without the pocket seam outline in the legs, which give the game away.) The khaki style pants really fit into a business environment, and the jeans are very rugged.

I work in a professional business environment and nobody even noticed the cargo pant zipper on the legs until I pointed it out.
 
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Just depends on my mood and what type of dress is required.I have an under shirt ultra conceal holster that works well with a button up shirt with any sort of pattern,an ankle holster for EDC,IWB,and a OWB.Last night my mood called for the OWB with an loose sweat shirt,and winter coat.Took the coat off at the resturant and the sweat shirt covered just fine.YMMV
 
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