There is a lot of advice swirling around the arena of concealed carry. As is the case with much free advice, much of it is worth exactly what you paid for it. Add in the fact that not everyone lives and works in environments with the same standards and expectations, and finding what works can be quite a challenge.
The good news is, just like with shooting, there are basic principles that can be applied almost universally, which can set the user up for success. The goal of this article and the one to follow is to address some of the fallacies that exist around the concealed carry wardrobe and help establish some best practices for wardrobe development and gear integration. One caveat before we proceed: The perspectives of this article are geared exclusively to men's wear, as women’s wear is not my expertise.
Myth #1: Dress Around the Gun.
I’ve been on a crusade against this concept since the inception of The Suited Shootist. I find it unrealistic and unnecessarily limiting to ask a person to completely overhaul their life and make the firearm the focus of everything from thereon out. I’ve found that it’s entirely possible to carry a suitably effective pistol, along with requisite support gear, without having to make major concessions to my preferred manner of dress. Given that how a person dresses can be part of their sense of identity, they may not want to reinvent themselves to be better protected.
Additionally, the idea of dressing around the gun usually contributes to…
Myth #2: Sizing Up.
The idea being, that in order to conceal effectively or comfortably, you’re going to have to buy bigger or baggier clothing than you typically wear. Now there can be a kernel of truth to this if the individual in question is wearing incredibly snug clothing with no “Concealment Envelope” (a term coined by Sarah Hauptman of PHLster Holsters). However, most men are generally already wearing clothing with enough room to accommodate a carry pistol.
There are several reasons not to size up:
- Unless you’re going for a very specific aesthetic, and following current fashion trends, oversized baggy clothing looks sloppy, which can have negative effects on your professional, social and romantic prospects. To the naysayers who dismiss fit as unimportant, I’d remind them that military uniform standards stress pride in appearance for a multitude of reasons and many of those principles cross over into the private sector.
- By allowing the excess fabric to bunch up on/around the gun, loose clothing can negatively affect concealment material, causing it to print worse than it would in more appropriately fitting clothing.
- All that extra material is more things you’ve got to fight through during your draw stroke.
So if a guy wants to carry concealed without looking like an off-duty cop or a freshman during rush week, what should he be looking for?
Denim:
Dark wash denim in either a slim or straight-leg fit is probably the most versatile pair of pants a guy can own. They can play equally well with a henley or t-shirt as they do with a sports jacket. Especially for a guy who hates shopping and doesn’t want too many choices, dark denim has been a staple for stylish men for at least the last ¾ of a century.
Chinos:
Arguably the most misunderstood pair of pants. Folks often confuse these with khakis. Unlike the heavy, pleated cotton slacks our dads wore, chinos are lighter, generally have a bit of stretch, and can be just as comfortable as your favorite sweatpants if you shop correctly. It bears mentioning that true chinos have the same slash-pocket type cut as dress pants, which allows them to play a little dressier. This can be an important consideration since slash pockets tend to have less usable depth than the 5-pocket cut (open-top) of denim and other workwear. Chinos are a safe, low-effort way to look just a little bit more stylish than the average dude without being flashy, flamboyant or having it feel inauthentic. It’s also an easy way to play with color.
Henleys:
These are basically polo shirts without the collar. They offer a couple of big advantages. The first being that many come in a textured fabric, either waffle or heathered. This subtle texture can help to reduce printing. The second benefit is a combination of functional and aesthetic. Many henleys come with what’s called a raglan sleeve (also popular on baseball tees). This sleeve cut helps to visually accentuate your delts and traps, making your shoulders look bigger. This also has the added benefit of drawing the eye higher up on the torso and away from the waistline.
Accessories:
Sunglasses, watches belts and shoes. Those are huge tells and the ones that people seem to be the laziest about. If you’re doing athletic activity, then, by all means, wear your Oakleys, Garmin, Blue Alpha belt and Solomons. If, however, you’re going on a date, a family cookout, or something similar, maybe ballistic eye pro and a wrist-worn GPS are not all that necessary. Inexplicably, the idea that “mission drives the gear” somehow gets thrown out the window if the discussion doesn’t revolve around gunfighting.
Sunglasses: They don’t have to be expensive. Pick a classic style like Aviators, Wayfarers, or Clubmasters. I have found that I tend to break and lose my expensive shades far less than the cheap ones, but everyone’s different on that front.
Watches: You can get an inexpensive Casio, Timex, or Citizen analog watch that is suitable for everything from pool parties to prom. But if all you’ve got is that G-Shock, then you’re better off not wearing a watch than wearing one in a setting where it sticks out.
Belts: Leather. If the belt is visible, leather trumps nylon every day of the week. If you’re carrying Appendix Inside the Waistband (AIWB), you don’t need a rigid, double-stitched belt. If you’re carrying behind the hip or Outside the Waistband (OWB), the requirements can be a bit different.
Shoes: Leather. Sneakers you can get away with canvas (like Vans, Chuck Taylors, Pumas or Adidas), but in general leather shoes are another way to be more discreet. Chukka boots are probably my favorite general purpose leather boot. They’re lightweight, available in a ton of different finishes, super comfortable and are amazingly versatile.
So, if I had to encourage you to seek out a casual look to play with that doesn’t scream “gun guy” or “dandy”, I would suggest this sort of outfit:
Henley shirt
Chino pants
Belt: Anson Belt & Buckle
Chukkas: Thursday Boot
Watch: Swatch Sistem 51
Pistol: Glock G19
Holster: Dark Star Gear Orion or PHLster Enigma
Light: Surefire Stiletto Pro
OC: POM Industries
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