TexasCHLforum.com

I've been thinking that I may need to change my style of dress somewhat to aid in carrying. Looking for some advice from some of you guys with similar body type or relatives (wives, gf especially) of guys like me.

I wear Levi's 527 mostly - low rise, slim, boot cut. 32w, 34l. These are slim, but so am I, so they do not look like skinny jeans.
I am 39 years old, 5'-11", 165 lb, fairly athletic build, skinny legs, and not much butt to speak of. I carry IWB at about 4:00 to 4:30. I have a Hank's Amish belt and Wilderness Tactical Instructor belts (5 stitch).

I wear the 527's cause they make my small butt and skinny legs look proportionally normal. My wife approves. These are fairly thin denim material and not quite as thick as I'd like for concealment purposes (the denim kinda drapes over the muzzle. the denim is not stiff enough to present just a generic bulge). the low rise has a shorter zipper than desirable perhaps if trying to visit the facilities and keep the belt/gun on etc.

I'd like to find some stiffer jeans that are a little roomier but yet still somewhat fashionable. relaxed fit perhaps if they don't look too baggy on me.

any suggestions?

I wear a similar type of jeans (slimmer cut). I do pocket carry a Kahr PM9, but it is not as easily accessible as it is in a pair of regular cut Wranglers. You might see if any of those would allow you to pocket carry. Or just start wearing untucked button-down shirts with t-shirt underneath and an IWB holster. That works well for me also.

I tend to wear medium sized shirts which are about the right size. My muzzle print of the PM9 is covered 95% of the time this way IWB. I could try moving up to a large shirt to be able to cover the 5" 1911 muzzle. Or alternately I may have to switch to button downs with longer tails instead of T-shirts.

I don't have too many pants where the pockets are big enough. A lot of my cargo shorts even have short, flimsy cotton pockets without enough room for pocket carry. I'm tempted to cut and re-sew some pockets (or talk my wife into that).

I've got a drawer full of holsters, 5 gun belts (2 are just the same as others in a different color), and 3 or 4 pairs of pants that I've collected in the last year leading up to this. My plastic ought to be arriving in my mailbox this week.

I had looked at Duluth Trading Co. Cast Iron Pants / khakis as one option. But I haven't had success with the 3 other pairs of pants that I mail ordered, so I'm inclined to only buy pants I can try on first from here on out.

4 days out of the week I wear slacks and a dress shirt, but I can't carry at work. So I've got to figure out some kind of car carry ideas too so that I can clip the gun on or pocket carry when I get off from work and start running errands. I'll probably start another thread for the car carry transition.

For jeans, I am about to try All American Clothing. Looks like good quality cotton and are made in the USA. I think these are online only, so not exactly what you're looking for.

I looked at All American clothing. Looks like good stuff to me. I would typically be drawn to the AA Revolution or the Saturday Night type styles.

packing a gun is not a fashion statement. if you carry IWB then you go with a size or two up from your reg size. Shirts are loser and sometimes left out instead of tucked in. go with a tuckable holster for those nights you are stepping out you don't want to show the imprint of the gun.

Try a kangaroo holster or shirt holster if you don't want to buy more pants. Whatever you do practice with the holster you have and work the bugs out meaning if you are carrying in a tuckable holster get in the habit of clearing your shirt with your left hand so the right hand is free. if you carry in a kangaroo carry use you left hand to raise your shirt out of the way but practicing makes it smooth.

I carry in a belly band and the other day I had watched a video on car carry and if I get jacked thinking shirts out so it would be smooth. So I went out to my truck and got in and applied the seat belt set a timer. Needless to say a fire drill in an Insane Asylums would have gone smoother. So now I find myself training more in this area and when I sit in the truck I uncover and tuck my shirt behind my gun (center console covers it) and I find this works much faster and smoother. Seat belt come undone and grabbing the gun in one motion

I'm a Levi 550 guy. I see a lot of folks fall in love with cerrtain gun types and certain gun sizes, but never consider what it takes to carry conceal properly and the other stuff like holsters and the clothes they'll wear.

5'6 130-140lb t-shrit and blue jeans 99% of the time always carry iwb. I have come to perfer apendix carry the best. it works out better then at 3 O'clock.

I won't wear Levi's at all due to their anti-gunner stance. Any other brand of blue jeans is fine with me. I'd even rather buy Chinese jeans that Levis

xb12s wrote:I wear Levi's 527 mostly - low rise, slim, boot cut. 32w, 34l. These are slim, but so am I, so they do not look like skinny jeans.
I am 39 years old, 5'-11", 165 lb, fairly athletic build, skinny legs, and not much butt to speak of.

I hate you already.

Tam, he is not as old as you and I therefore quite possibly he will surpass us in his rotundity someday. We should feel pity for the skinny feller knowing that he is soon to hit the downside slide. Untucked shirts and iwb is the way to go.

Sidro wrote:Tam, he is not as old as you and I therefore quite possibly he will surpass us in his rotundity someday. We should feel pity for the skinny feller knowing that he is soon to hit the downside slide. Untucked shirts and iwb is the way to go.

Yeah, he might as well surrender now and get used to it.

5 ft 11 and 34" long jeans!?!?!?!?

6ft here and 32s!!!

Jumping Frog wrote:I won't wear Levi's at all due to their anti-gunner stance. Any other brand of blue jeans is fine with me. I'd even rather buy Chinese jeans that Levis

Awe, c'mon. You don't see the irony in buying their jeans and using them to conceal a gun? That would be kinda like that group up in Chicago that used the police department's buy back program to fund a camp for kids to learn about shooting. It would be even better to send Levi's a letter telling them that you think their jeans a great and that they are more comfortable and work better several other brands you have tried for concealing your gun.

/shrug

Top selection is the deciding factor for me, not lower.

Regardless of what lower garment I opt for, it is the top garment that actually conceals the firearm (full size 1911).

I have button down tops for more casual wear that I leave untucked, and button down tops that are a little bit larger so I can tuck them in for a little more formality.

I'll wear a shirt underneath, leave the button down untucked, and leave the bottom 2 buttons unbuttoned for access to the firearm.

Works like a champ.