5 Considerations For Concealed Carry While Dressed Fancy

The name is Vedder. Vedder Holsters. We are here to discuss things you should think about for concealed carry if you are dressed up. Whether you are dressed fancy for church, a wedding, a business meeting, or secret business with MI6 you may still be able to conceal carry your weapon.

You might think it is easy to conceal carry in a suit because all you have to do is hide your gun and holster under your jacket. While yes you can do that, there are a few more things you might want to think about when choosing how you are going to carry while you are dressed up.

On that note, let’s start the discussion with belts.

Your Belt Will Be Showing

Imagine you are getting ready for your sister’s wedding. You put on your button down shirt and your black slacks, and it comes time for your holster and belt. Oh no, the only gun belt you have is a Vedder Holsters Cobra®Gun Belt!

Do you risk it with your regular black leather belt and hope that it can support your gun without too much sag or do you go with the tactical belt and give away that you are carrying? Maybe if you leave your jacket buttoned no one will notice your belt.

With a suit or even nice slacks and a button down shirt, your belt will be showing. Typically you would probably wear a nice leather belt. Do you have a gun belt in leather? If not, and you frequently find yourself dressing up and concealed carrying, investing in a good leather gun belt could be a lifesaver.

Our Polymer Core Leather Gun Belt is made with two layers of premium cowhide. Set between the layers is a solid polymer core, providing extra strength to maintain strength and structure. It’s a great looking belt that works with your best suit or your favorite pair of jeans.

So, if you plan on concealed carrying while you are dressed up think about what kind of belt you have. Is it stylish enough to match your outfit?

Clip Color And Style Matter

If you are planning on carrying inside the waistband (IWB) while you are dressed up you may want to think about the color of the clip on your holster. That is the portion of the holster that could be visible to anyone just looking at your attire. That being said, you will probably want a clip that matches your belt or at least the color of something around your belt.

Beyond the color of the clip, the clip style is important too. Finding a clip that allows you to tuck a shirt in front of your holster can be beneficial if you are trying to conceal carry while dressed up and without a coat. You will also want a clip that is going to keep the gun close to your body for easier concealment. A holster claw can help with this too.

While you may not have thought much about it, the clip color and style are important things to think about for maximum concealment when you are dressed up.

There Is A Holster Style For Everyone

There are a few options when it comes to holsters you could conceal carry with, each one is going to have a different level of concealability and comfort. Depending on what you are wearing and what you will be doing, you may find one style works better for you over another.

• Inside The Waistband (IWB) Holster - Some IWB holsters, like our LightTuck™, are designed to allow you to tuck your shirt in while still wearing the holster and concealing. This design can be perfect for concealed carry, as long as you don’t have a super tight fitting dress shirt.
• Outside The Waistband (OWB) Holster - With the help of your blazer, an OWB holster like our LightDraw™ can be easily concealed. Something to consider with wearing an OWB holster is that you would need to keep your jacket on for the duration of the event in order to keep your weapon concealed. So, if it is going to be warm or you think you might take your jacket off, OWB might not be the best choice.
• Pocket Holster - Pocket holsters, like our Pocket Locker, are a great option for concealed carry when you are dressed nicely. They don’t require much additional effort to ensure they are concealed, especially if you are using the right sized gun.
• Shoulder or Ankle Holster - While slightly less common, shoulder and ankle holsters are viable options for concealed carrying while dressing fancy.

Where You Are Going

If you are going to a wedding and it is outside you are probably going to want to take your jacket off, given its not winter that is. If you take your jacket off, is your concealed carry weapon going to be exposed because you have on an OWB holster?

What holster style you choose and where you are going can go hand in hand. If you need something more concealable because you are going to be taking off your jacket an IWB or Pocket holster may work better for you. Whereas if you are not planning on taking your jacket off you could probably get away with an OWB or shoulder holster.

Gun Size Can Make A Big Difference

If you are dressed nice and decide to concealed carry you probably won’t want to carry your 1911. The larger the gun the harder it is going to be to conceal, especially with a button down dress shirt. If you are carrying IWB or in a pocket holster while dressed for business, you may want to consider carrying a gun with a smaller footprint for easier concealment. While your pockets may be large, a larger gun will print more through your pant pocket.

If you are carrying OWB or in a shoulder holster, you have a little bit more flexibility when it comes to gun size. A larger gun will print less than it would with an IWB or pocket holster because your jacket is covering your holster and gun the entire time.

Make sure to consider what size gun will be best for you while you conceal carry dressed up.

Let’s review. If you are dressed fancy there are a few things you will want to keep in mind for concealed carry. Your belt will most likely be showing so you will want to choose one that matches your attire but still holds your gun and holster. The style and color of your holster clip matters. There are various style holsters to choose from and your choice may depend on what you are doing. Gun size can make a difference too when it comes to concealability.

Ultimately, with concealed carrying while dressed fancy, it comes down to what you prefer and what meets your needs. We recommend visiting our Holsters by Gun Model page if you are looking for holsters that are custom made for your weapon of choice. For all of our belt and holster options and for more information to help you choose the carry system that works best for you, visit our Vedder Holsters website.

Looking for items beyond holsters and belts, check out our Resources Page for popular product links like lights, laser, first aid, maintenance, and more.