[Trisha]

Though it's a rare event in my life, sometimes Susan and I get tickets to a good performing arts event (classical music, Broadway show, etc. . .) and we get dressed up to the max! I'm talking the good silk suits, best high heels, hair and makeup, manicures, the works!

It also means choosing our carry rigs and guns of choice with care, as tailored clothes are ill-suited for a Condition-One Kimber Custom Eclipse II and reloads. . .

:D

I've made it a point to do a full day's worth of tactical drills at the range in a decent suit and +3-4 inch pumps because so much changes while wearing them and a snug skirt (to put it mildly)! I don't just dump the shoes as a firefight in an urban environment likely presents the presence of broken glass, yes?

I have to ask: do you drill and train in dress clothes? Are there adaptations to your carry rig? Have you thought of setting up a shoot at your local gun club where other girls all show up in similar attire (albeit disposable, from a repeat clothing store) - both for mutual support as well as showing the boys we are still competent when dressed to the nines?

Any insights or pointers you've gained to pass along?

Trisha

[Mastrogiacomo]

Never thought to train while dressed up -- clothes usually get washed after a day at the range and can be costly and time consuming when it's a nice outfit. I imagine if you practice well, you shouldn't have a problem no matter how you're dressed or what the occassion. As far as carrying, I think it'd be tough to pack to the Opera or the Ballet given the new security measures....might set something off and then miss the show if they won't let me inside -- so I'd never bother.

[Betty]

Hmmm.. The last time I dressed in formal wear was to my high school prom.

I train in casual clothes because it's comfortable and that's what I wear most of the time.

I would think a two-piece silk suit like you're suggesting should be faily manageable. I doubt the dinky belt loops are going to fit a decent wide leather gun belt. Ever try a belly band? It'll depend on your body shape where/what you can hide. I can hide a USPc in the 4-5 o'clock position. The top should be able to break up the outline by hiding the curve of your waist & hips. Since silk is so thin and fluttery in the breeze, you may have to carry a flatter gun than usual.

[280PLUS]

but what about a nice keltec p32?

i hear theyre making a .380 in the same frame now, but havent heard much more

i'll be quiet and go away now...

:D

[Henry Bowman]

I, too, have both an X and a Y chromosome . . .

But yes, since I spend many days in a business suit, I make a point to do at least some shooting/training so dressed (on the way home from work, for example). Even for a man, having leather-soled shoes and a jacket that is tighter in the chest/sholders makes a difference.

Train with what you carry. Train in what you wear.

[Trisha]

Runt;

I have solved carry problems for special occasions, as has Susan; and we enjoy what has become something of a game with our friends in the Sheriff's department; "OK, what are you carrying today and where the hell is it??"

Well over half the time we win, no contest. . . (and some of our guys aren't slouches, believe me!)

280PLUS - only one of us will carry a minor caliber at a time, the other one always carries a .45 and reloads. If I'm by myself (which is very, very rare) it's always a .45 and at least one knife (usually an ASP baton, too).

Mastrogiacomo? When we're out in the high-rent part of town after dark, well dressed and so on - we're walking high-profile targets to the career goblin (oft repeated fact from old friends in Street Crimes Unit as well as Gang Task Force). I got a shudder at the thought of being naked under those circumstances (especially those!). . .

Mr. Bowman? Excellent!

[Desert Dog]

All I have to say is I am jealous of your significant others. I have a hard time getting my wife to hold and shoot a gun, much less "carry" one.

I AM impressed.

Mike

[Skunkabilly]

Not a girl, but since it's tactical I do shoot in a kilt...

http://www.utilikilts.com/images/original/nightwatch.jpg

Got some Scottish in me.

[USMCsilver]

Hey Skunk, those looked like shaved legs. :what:

[Henry Bowman]

Skunk,

Are you weird, got too much time on your hands, or just really good with PhotoShop?

[Sheslinger]

Here is something I did not need to know, Skunk...

How do you get rid of mental pictures?

[Trisha]

I have a solution. Taken about half an hour ago, coincidentally:

[pax]

Trisha,

That's what I call a Durn Good Question.

Me, the only time I usually dress up is on Sunday mornings -- and then it's casual dressy, not dressy dressy. Once in a very blue moon I'll dress up properly, but such occasions are extraordinarily rare.

Haven't tried taking my Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes to the range.

Hmmmmm.

Oh, and I never wear heels, even when really dressed up properly. Partly that is because I have no desire to emulate a Hollywood leading lady, tiptoeing for my life (stupid chick!) -- but mostly it's because of congenitally weak ankles and general klutziness (my dear old dad pointed out once that I was the only woman he knew who could fall off a tennis shoe. Sweet man).

pax

Say what you want about long dresses, but they cover a multitude of shins. -- Mae West

[Trisha]

I won't miss, I promise:

[Trisha]

:D

[Skunkabilly]

OK I confess the kilt isn't mine. Other than my suit, the only pants I have are 4 pairs of Royal Robbins khakis. No kilts, no jeans, no shorts.

[Feanaro]

I am now scarred for life Skunk. :scrutiny:

[DJJ]

Looks like Kilt Guy is wearing a seat belt for a belt. :confused:

[Nightfall]

Now that's what I call a home defense weapon, Trisha. :D

[Trisha]

Thanks.

It looks like the topic is completely derailed.

Whatever.

[spacemanspiff]

i'm not one of the girls, but when i was younger i would get dressed up in nice suits, dont do that anymore (keep telling myself i'm gonna lose weight before i buy another suit) so the most i'll be found wearing that could be called 'dressy' is khakis with a button down and a tie. the tuckable holster from high noon works great. if i dont have to worry about concealing the iwb black sharkskin holster from Rafters gun leather looks nice. their matching belt is very snazzy.

[Betty]

Hey, I'd wear that camo-kilt. :D

[Greg L]

Instead of wearing your good suits/clothes for that type of training you could pick up some older suits/dresses that fit the same at Goodwill or some other thrift shop. That way you wouldn't have to worry about tearing up your good stuff but still get a similar sensation to what you would be wearing.

Greg

[Erik Jensen]

I've actually got one of those kilts. though mine is in basic black, and it's an amerikilt, not a utilikilt like skunkie showed.www.amerikilt.com (http://www.amerikilt.com) very comfortable, and it's non-traditional, so I don't worry about the fact that I'm not Irish/scottish. the utilikilts are nice, and they make some more traditional tartans as well, but they're a bit more spendy, and the sporran that the amerikilts come with comes in pretty handy.

[Mastrogiacomo]

If I were doing a girl's night out on Newbury Street -- not likely, damn expensive -- I could see trying to carry a weapon for the ride home. I'd probably end up in the North End or Chinatown with my financial limitations though -- and yeah, I'd want something then. However, if you're going to a musical or the Tango -- it'd be tough to get inside without someone seeing your weapon -- and then of course you couldn't enter for the performance -- big hit in the purse at about $100 or more loss on the ticket. Hanging out a friends apartment -- say a party -- that's different. Even dressed to the nine's I don't see myself changing the way I shoot -- just the way I pack. So why should it matter how you dress at the range?:scrutiny:

[George Hill]

No kilts, no jeans...


And you say you have some Scottish in you... :fire:

I have 5 pairs of jeans... a Kilt... a couple BDU pants... but no tactical Khaki cargo pants.

/Clan Cameron

[Monkeyleg]

Hmm. This reminds me of the scene in Clint Eastwood's "In the Line of Fire" where he and Rene Russo are at a formal party, with Russo in the traditional Little Black Dress.

Russo: "What's the matter?"

Eastwood: "I was just wondering where you hide your firearm. Don't tell me. Let me guess."

[sm]

I haven't owned a suit since LBJ was POTUS. I do dress nice in slacks and the one coat and tie I own...

Yes I have CCW in that get-up...full size 1911 IWB. I have different sized loops that will fit smaller belts that are easily changed. Shooting in leather shoes , shooting and scootin' is different.

My date whom, usually carries a comander sized 1911,has had to adapt to dress ups We have attended Theatre and Country Club events. I don't know where -but I'm not sure which is sexier, she, the dresses, or that 'garter' type inside the thigh holster, with a Jetfire. She sure can't put a gun in her clutch purse...a pack of smokes is bigger.

I really enjoy when she asks me to critque her "draw and fire drills" when she is wearing those long dresses, slits, those legs. She even uses it with mini skirs for a BUG...sorry my mind left me for a moment...:D

She also will use NAA 22lr as BUG in those outfits...dang sure ain't the top ...it has worked for some tops...just not in those evening gowns...I can't believe what they charge for those outfits with so little material....not complaining, mind you.
;)

[Betty]

Shopping for women's CCW clothes can sometimes be a nightmare, especially in the jeans dept.

I prefer boot cut/flare-legged jeans because they're great for ankle holsters. Unfortunately, most of those jeans these days are the low-riding variety that expose your belly button and half your hips. It makes it really hard to work with any belt or paddle holster, and they're terrible with the belly band I wear around my hips.

After about a half hour of wrestling with everything in the jeans section, I found some L.E.I., cK and Bongo "Cow Girl Cut" jeans that worked like magic. I have an older pair of Levi's 515's that are excellent, but there'll be no more Levi's in my future because of their stand on firearms.

And why the heck is a size 5 in one brand a size 7 in another and a size 3 in yet another? :cuss:

My mother, standing outside the dressing room:
"DO THOSE JEANS FIT WITH YOUR GUN ON?"

:uhoh:

[sasnofear]

how about just not carrying when goin out. make life easier due 2 chances of anything happening 2 u on that particular day (though sods law and all :) )

[Shalako]

.

[Trisha]

Going dancing hadn't occurred to me, as I occasionally need a cane to walk - good point - and now that Susan has a heart condition an evening out salsa or swing dancing doesn't even show up on my scope.

Curious, though, why so many guys can't resist jumping in here. . .

:rolleyes:

As a matter of tactics, though, I always know before hand if any place we might be thinking about runs metal detectors or has a "no weapons" policy. It's less of a concern now in Colorado since the new law was passed. . .

Greg, it's the combination of a tailored suit and a pair of dress heels that changes everything (and "a repeat clothing store" is another name for a nicer variety of thrift shop/consignment store).

Runt - I've never owneed a belly band rig (asthma). I'm going to get one of the FOBUS shoulder rigs, though, and see if the infinitely variable cant can be more versitile. Sizes? Oh, yeah. . .


;)

[sm]

runt.
I think LLBean has started carrying a flared "boot cut" jean with the waist your referring to.

...and your mom thought 'fitting' you as child was a chore... huh...:D

I've concluded regardless of gender, the people that label sizes are stoned, drunk-probably both. Mom bought her 'regular size'--"well, she says...I don't look fat...I can't even find me in it...watch this I can turn around in it...must have been " Omar" the tent maker label...

[QuarterBoreGunner]

My mother, standing outside the dressing room:
"DO THOSE JEANS FIT WITH YOUR GUN ON?"


"Mom! I told you to be cool! Now all the other kids are looking at me!"

Ahahahahahaha!


Fortunately for the male of the species, drawing from a strong side behind the hip holster, with a suit and tie on isn't that different than from drawing in a t-shirt and jeans.

Though I have run into a few times when I had to take my jacket off and decided before hand to carry the SW 637 in a front pocket. Practiced drawing and dry firing at home ripped through the pocket lining with the hammer spur. Picked up a hammer shroud real quick like.

[pax]

Mastro --

The draw from a belly band or thigh rig is considerably different than the draw from an IWB. While your shooting doesn't change, your ability to draw and the way you move while drawing certainly has to. Trisha makes a good point.

Runt --

Try looking in the guys' department. Slightly bigger waists (room for IWB) and no showed off belly buttons either.

Oh, and leave your mom at home. :D

My mom is the only person who has ever 'made' me -- twice, no less. I can't seem to get it through my head that being alert to people touching my waist or going to hug me includes my very own mother. And, of course, her reaction was priceless, both times: "you've got your GUN on!! Is that legal??" :rolleyes: Yes, mom.

pax

Mother is far too clever to understand anything she does not like. -- Arnold Bennett

[sm]

The draw from a belly band or thigh rig is considerably different than the draw from an IWB.

Boy! I'll attest to that...:D
Hey-I was giving positive and informative suggestions, coaching...advising, admiring , watching techinque closely...

[Mastrogiacomo]

I agree the draw of the firearm would be different, but I still don't see a reason why anyone would feel the need to dress up at the range. Washing my expensive clothes would be too much of a hassle -- besides, I clean my guns before going home. I'd put a holster on different areas of the leg and practice drawing the gun -- from the privacy of my room. ;) While you'd certainly get people's attention dressing up to the nines, I feel it's really not necessary to go to such extremes.

[tex_n_cal]

This has got to be the strangest thread yet on THR...camo kilts on an Asian guy, low riding jeans, little black dresses, broadswords, evening gowns, Berettas, Commanders, and comely ladies with thigh holsters. :scrutiny:

The mental pictures may take me a while to sort out:what:

I think all we're missing is a katana concealed in a kimono.

Skunky, don't you dare!:evil:

[Gophfer]

Here is how my daughter did it.

http://www.tig-goph.com/cindyar15.jpg

http://www.tig-goph.com/cindyar15-2.jpg

[WAGCEVP]

personally, I only dress uo to go to funerals and weddings and I try real hard to avoid both :)

As was stated earlier, if you practice enuff, it shouldn't matter what you wear.

[kannonfyre]

....IMHO even with a tux on, a man can always conceal a 1911A1 in a good shoulder holster.

In any case, the last and only time I had a gun whilst in formal gear was when I did ceremonial presidential guard duties as an army draftee. I was wearing the "No.1" ceremonial parade uniform (the type army regulars in my homeland get married in) and carrying a re-worked AR-18 with 10 rds in the magazine.

Should not have been too difficult participating in a gunfight while in such attire but it would have roughed up my uniform big time! :D

Anyway, the REAL security force inside the presidential palace was a team of LEOs with MP5s.

[Okiecruffler]

Any time The Wife gets dresed up to go out, she carries her gun on MY left hip. You'd be surprised how quickly She can bring that thing into play, but we practice it quite abit. We're kinda quirky sometimes.

And as long as we're taking role call, Clan Gregor present and accounted for.

[Kentucky Rifle]

The first time was in a hug when she "clicked" her ring on the J-frame on my hip. Now, she makes it a habit to give me a big hug and tap her ring on the butt of whatever I happen to be wearing at the time. Then she gives me this "little sideways smile" and nods her head. It's became a "thing" between us.

KR
(To all who knew~Nancy made it. I went 70 hours without sleep. I couldn't have done that or withstood the pain of my "regular stuff" without the person who originated this thread. I thank her warmly from the bottom of my heart.)

[Hemicuda]

TRUST me... with all those folds of plaid fabric, I am pretty sure I could hide a matched PAIR of Desert Eagles in there, undetected, and a good IWB by Bianchi is all I need to hide my Beretta 8040F Mini-Cougar...

even when wearing the kilt in the "true scottish style" there's no problem...

As for dress-up... I have a black "cumberbund" holster, and a Galco Miami Classic... they usually do the trick!

[Steve Smith]

I hate that I even HAD to post to this topic. Could you guys PLEASE respect Trisha and keep your off-topic comments to yourself? You can tell that she's already tired of your lame responses.

[ojibweindian]

My wife avoids dresses and goes for pant-suits. A matching jacket hides her revolver rather well.