Dressing Around The Gun

[BikerRN]

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First off, let me say that I favor Inside The Waistband Carry.

With that in mind, I select my clothing with an eye towards concealment. My pants are 1"-2" larger in the waist than if I didn't carry a gun. My "cover shirts" are cut roomy, or in the case of T-Shirts, one size too large. I like dark colors and bold patterns to help disguise the gun I'm trying to hide, think Hawaiian here. My suits are gut to accomodate the gun in my pants and one in the pocket. Pleated pants work very well to hide a gun.

In the summer I wear Cargo Shorts and an untucked Hawaiian shirt with a T-Shirt underneath. The "covershirt" hides my 4" N-Frame Revolver or my Glock 19 with no problems. In the weakside pocket is my BUG. In the winter people say it's easier to hide a bigger gun. Maybe so, but if you pay some attention to your clothing you can hide that same gun most likely in the summer too.

I demand high quality holsters and belts. There is no sense in spending good money on an exspensive holster only to mate it with a cheap belt. That's like breeding a prize winning cutting horse mare to "Tony The Wonder Pony" from the circus.

For where I live I do not look out of place. No Trenchcoats in July. I'm not a "fashion plate" but I do look respectable and acceptable wherever I go. Case in point, I went to a party, could only conceal one gun due to how I was dressed. 4" N-Frame in a Matt Del Fatti Outside Waistband Holster with a Bruce Gibson Belt covered by a DHS Polo Shirt, one size too large, in navy blue, untucked. Never got made, and would've been confronted if the gun was "spotted".

Another part of it is moving in ways to minimize "telegraphing" your carry status. It's a long learning process, but I had some good teachers over the years and I hope some of you can use some of what I've said.

As far as Holsters and Belts, there are some good makers out there, but these are whom I use or have used and recommend:

Mitch Rosen
Milt Sparks
Matt Del Fatti
Bruce Gibson (Gibson ProRodeo, makes a great Belt)
Ted Blocker
Greg Kramer
The BeltMan
Don Hume (Pocket Holster)
Robert Mika (Pocket Holster)

Biker

[Tanzer]

BikerRN,
It's been killing me lately, because I've been going to the gym and I'm starting to look pretty good for a 44,...um... 45...um...46 year old. I want to show off the fact that the belly's gone. Anyhow, my general mode is like yours. I get the large/tall size shirts. With it being spring, you can sometimes get away with tucking in the shirt with an IWB and a denim jacket, just don't take it off by accident. :oops:
I've really got to tout the 5.11 tactical pants. You can get them through a number of places like LA Police Gear (don't hold your breath 'till they come in), and I think Cabela's may have them (what don't they have?). Not all 5.11's are the same. Most have some elastic at 4:00 and 8:00. I like the ones with the double front (upper) pockets. The inside pockets zipper. There's a variety of side pockets that'll hold things like a small flashlight easily, and under the side pockets are more zippered pockets with a little foam barrier. This foam is also between the right inside/outside top pockets to keep a BUG from printing wherever you prefer to keep it. Side pockets are high enough above the knee that the weight doesn't bother you. Plenty of extra mag storage etc, and most of all, you don't come off looking like a wannabe or a painter's schlep-boy. They actually look casually dressy. Inside the waist has rubber grips that stop a shirt from coming untucked. Big belt loops for a quality belt, and they grab an IWB clip so it doesn't want to flip over when you go to the mens' room to squeeze a kidney. They come in shorts, too. There's also well thought out little loops & straps to snap keys & stuff on to. I can walk around with an extra mag, a small flashlight, an all in one tool and a 3" Gerber carrying IWB - nothing shows, and I can get at any of it. It's really nice to have that BUG in a pocket where you aren't tempted to drop change or store receipts.
There are different styles, so don't get put off if you see a pair that look too "GI Joe" for you, like the ones with the ties at the leg bottoms. You can look like a grunt, an executive or anything in between.

The limitations: OWB requires a good belt because you can't position the holster over a loop unless you want to sit on your gun. Some however, have a strap that'll go around the outside of a OWB holster at 4:00. Hang immediately out of the dryer or they look like you ironed them with a baseball bat. The rear pockets on some are so deep that you have to dig really deep for your wallet (good in a way, but embarassing at the checkout - looks like you have an itch).
Anyone who hasn't seen these should check them out. They cost a bit, but you can get deals online. Places like LA Police Gear (not so good customer service IMO, I think it's a guy working from his mom's basement) will e-mail you deals.