“Every girl’s crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man.” – ZZ Top
Alas, I will never be accused of being that guy. My daughter tells me that I only have three looks, “dressy”, “coachy” and “tactical.” My wife is less flattering and says I mostly resemble an off-duty mall guard. I like BDU (battle dress uniform) shorts and in cold weather switch to the long pants version. They come in seventeen shades of khaki, my signature color. I also liven things up with the occasional splash of black. I tell myself that black is slimming… I know, I know. Deep down, I’m not buying it either but black does hide guns well. And that, my friends, is what dressing for the gun is all about.
Dressing for the gun is about lessening the profile of a concealed carry weapon. It is a combination of holster choice, layering, color and style. Sounds technical? Not really. There are several outfits that scream, “I am carrying a concealed weapon!” BDU’s, photography/safari vests suggest just that, as do NRA emblazoned gear, United States Constitution gear, back the blue gear, and shirts with sayings like, “I will give up my gun when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!” Nothing against any of those fashion statements. I own several but they make it easier to spot the winner in a game of guess who’s carrying a concealed weapon during a bank robbery attempt.
Concealing a weapon starts with a good holster choice. I will cover that topic in the months to come, but a good holster does a couple of things. First off, it provides a secure platform that retains your weapon. It is stable and retains the weapon, even when you wind up rolling around on the ground in a scuffle or upside down in an automobile accident. Secondly, it keeps your weapon near in proximity to your body, so it doesn’t protrude (see print) against the cover garment. A good holster is comfortable. How you dress is the rest of the equation in concealing a firearm.
The location on body in which you carry your CCW (concealed carry weapon) has a lot to do with how well you can conceal said weapon. The three o’clock/right hip position for a right-handed shooter is probably best combination for comfort and access to one’s handgun. However, it is one of the more difficult locations to conceal. Put a fleece or Carhartt vest over it and voila, instant concealment! Buy that same vest in a tall version and you get another inch or two of fabric to conceal the piece. Untucked/unbuttoned shirts are a great way to cover and conceal your weapon. Plaids, prints, etc. will help break up the outline of your weapon while carrying. A good belt is nearly as important as a good holster.
Move the gun to the appendix position and a simple t-shirt will act as a cover garment, nicely. If you are wearing mesh athletic shorts and a t-shirt in the summer, an elastic belly band holster works great for concealment. A full-size pistol with a spare magazine can be carried in a belly band without a great deal of difficulty. The smaller the gun, the easier to conceal.
Leg holsters are less noticeable than many other holster forms but are tougher from which to draw. Leg holsters are not comfortable to run in, however. Pocket holsters are hard to detect but again, made for smaller sized weapons. The pockets of my beloved BDU’s will accommodate a mid-sized pistol or revolver nicely and at the same time, keep the gun handy. Small automatics fit in both front and rear pockets of jeans and mimic the wallet on the right or left cheek of the buttocks.
Dressing for the gun may include having to go to the old standby, “the fanny pack.” Yes, I said it. It’s out there. Fanny Pack. Not wearing elastic waist jeans yet? You may not want to judge too harshly or too quickly. There are some fanny packs worth looking at.
While I have mentioned previously that I don’t care for a satchel (man purse) I have taken to carrying one when all other options are exhausted. My cardinal rule for the man purse is that it never comes off my body. It is never unattended when worn.
Sports coats, a sweater tied around the waist, or a baggy sweatshirt with (tactical) spandex tights are other ways to conceal. Your imagination is the only limit. Good luck and good concealment.