Summer wear

[CapnMac]

It's counter-intuitive, but you want a t-shirt, even under another t-shirt.
Part of that is for the sweat wicking.
But, the other part is to keep bare metal off your skin (or wearing a callous into your hide)

The right size matters, too (as so eloquently and repeatedly stated above). Pulling a Jerry Seinfeld and buying size 30 jeans for vanity's sake does not make your life, nor your holster, fit any better.

This can be very true for your cargo shorts as summer wear, whether with IWB or thundershorts or the like holsters.

And, appearances can matter, as wearing that 1 3/4" leather gun belt with cargo shorts is likely to be attention getting.

 

[The Night Rider]

Tips from FL Man.
Untuck shirt.
Wear a shirt that is not tight or fitted, go with relaxed or loose fit.
Pattern, print or some design.
Nearly every shirt I have fits that description and they are thin & not cotton. (I might wear cotton in "winter" Nov - Feb)
Representative example:
View attachment 1159753

Dressed as pictured I can easily & effectively conceal a Glock 17 AIWB plus a Kahr PM9 in pocket.
Note the PM9 (2nd gun) is not because I anticipate "needing" a 2nd gun nor do I live in a "bad area"; quite the opposite, I live in a good area where I can walk to the beach and don't anticipate "needing" a handgun at all. The 2nd gun in pocket affords the option of putting my hand on it without revealing I'm carrying and that option is potentially useful wherever.

A steam iron is a thing bro

 

[Simple Shooter]

Duluth jeans have a watch pocket that's big enough for a small gun in a pocket holster. I wear an untucked button down pattern shirt or polo that's long enough to cover my P290.

Looking hard at the Hidden Hybrid https://hiddenhybridholsters.com/ for the bigger guns.

 

[drobs]

Cargo shorts & T-shirt for pocket carry.

Cargo shorts and short sleeved untucked button down shirt for OWB carry.

 

[.308 Norma]

It's counter-intuitive, but you want a t-shirt, even under another t-shirt.
Part of that is for the sweat wicking.
But, the other part is to keep bare metal off your skin (or wearing a callous into your hide)

That's not necessarily true, CapnMag. Neither of the two pancake style holsters (one for my little Taurus 32 H&R, and the other for my Glock G19) I wear for carry let any "bare metal" anywhere near my skin - even before I lost that "spare tire" I used to have around my middle.
About the worst that ever happened when I had that "spare tire" was the rubber Pachmayer grip on the Smith 38 snubby I used to carry rubbed on my "bare skin" a little - IF I wasn't wearing a tucked in shirt. It never bothered me though, much less wore a "callous" into my hide.

 

[jstert]

+1 on a lightweight tshirt under an untucked shirt. it does keep me cooler and renders carrying my s&w 642 ccw more comfortable, as it has larger pachmayr grips. otherwise in any weather my other ccw are small: keltec p32 or naa bugout1. i will use a nontactical fanny pack too. i don’t believe that any garment screams gun anymore because most anyone under 50yo is either obliviously engrossed in their smartphone or themselves dresses with abandon.

 

[SterlingBullet]

Even in summer and I am wearing just my squeaky speedo,.

Corporal Agarn in a Speedo.
Now how do I scrub that image from my head?
Think of Ken Berry in a chicken suit?

 

[Lo-Profile]

Retired as well.
Jeans or jean shorts year round depending on the weather.
OWB in leather holster with just a t-shirt or sweatshirt over it. Have found most people don't notice anything anymore.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

Make sure you are not carrying a subcompact that is not great for PC and not really made for pocket carrying. Instead get an actual pocket gun if you must pocket carry. Those "mouse" guns are meant for either deeper concealment or a backup get off of me gun, and are easily able to be dropped in a pocket holster and fit easily in without printing and not a struggle to grip, draw, and present.

My warmer months is a 43X MOS appendix carried. Doesn't print, super fast to draw from and very fast in presentation.

 

[.38 Special]

I'm not ready to accept the "Hawaiian shirts are the new photographer's vest" thing quite yet. At least here in SoCal, every old guy wears wears a Hawaiian shirt. I'm fine with the idea that they're all packing, but I seriously doubt it. Meanwhile, I'll continue to wear them - along with silk or linen pants, and a good Panama hat - as a perfect old-guy-dressed-but-casual look which happens to hide a gun really well. Maybe it looks funny in Milwaukee, but there are quite a few parts of the country where it could hardly be more prosaic.

 

[trackskippy]

You need to dress for where you live, around here, a Hawaiian shirt would be like having a spotlight pointed at you. Its strictly "Farmer Casual" around here, Carhartts with a Skoal ring, either Trump or FJB tee shirts, and the obligatory ball caps.

Unless of course youre Amish, then its Black/Grey and Straw.

110% agree on the undershirt, especially if youre carrying IWB/AIWB or even OWB. Its not just the metal of the gun thats the issue, its more about the leather holsters and exposed grips rubbing on you.

 

[dobedo]

Jeans with t-shirt under my Tommy Bahama/PFG shirts with IWB.

 

[drobs]

Retired as well.
Jeans or jean shorts year round depending on the weather.
OWB in leather holster with just a t-shirt or sweatshirt over it. Have found most people don't notice anything anymore.

Do you have the matching Corvette and white New Balance shoes to go with your Jorts (Jean Shorts)?



RE undershirts. For me it depends on the gun's grip texture. They are not needed with my Glock 19 and its smooth grip. Other guns with a rough textured grip - yes definitely need an undershirt.

Undershirts are handy when you feel your concealment isn't so hot that day and want a little more. You can pull the tail of the undershirt over the gun for a little additional coverage.

 

[Mizar]

You guys keep mentioning those parrot like Hawaiian shirts, as if this style of button down shirt is the only one available in the world...

 

[.38 Special]

You guys keep mentioning those parrot like Hawaiian shirts, as if this style of button down shirt is the only one available in the world...

No, just a style that is good for hot weather (lightweight silk), hides a gun well (meant to be worn lose and untucked, and often has patterns which break up the outline), and doesn't look like a "gun garment" - except, apparently, in places where it does.

 

[.308 Norma]

You guys keep mentioning those parrot like Hawaiian shirts, as if this style of button down shirt is the only one available in the world...

I've noticed that too. Almost all of the shirts in my closet are loose fitting casual shirts that can be worn either tucked or untucked, and if left untucked, they'll easily cover the gun in the pancake style holster tucked behind my right hip. And not a one of them is a "Hawaiian shirt." In fact, most of my shirts are solid color shirts.

Maybe it looks funny in Milwaukee, but there are quite a few parts of the country where it could hardly be more prosaic.

A Hawaiian shirt would probably look funny around here. But I doubt it would "scream gun" to most folks - other than maybe a few "gun guys."

 

[wayneinFL]

You guys keep mentioning those parrot like Hawaiian shirts, as if this style of button down shirt is the only one available in the world...

They have a pattern that breaks up and doesn't show printing very well. But any shirt that isn't made to tuck will do. I've used polo shirts before at work. Dickie makes some work shirts that are flat across the bottom as well.

Dark colors seem to hide printing better.

 

[Mizar]

No, just a style that is good for hot weather (lightweight silk), hides a gun well (meant to be worn lose and untucked, and often has patterns which break up the outline), and doesn't look like a "gun garment" - except, apparently, in places where it does.

They are mostly made from rayon (synthetic) or cotton - silk is a little bit expensive garment. Any regular fit casual button down shirt, meant for summer carry, will do - cotton, linen, rayon... As for the pattern and printing - just pick up any lightly colored shirt with geometrical pattern and you are GTG. I mean - be more stylish, guys! Girls will appreciate that too...

 

[.38 Special]

They are mostly made from rayon (synthetic) or cotton - silk is a little bit expensive garment. Any regular fit casual button down shirt, meant for summer carry, will do - cotton, linen, rayon... As for the pattern and printing - just pick up any lightly colored shirt with geometrical pattern and you are GTG. I mean - be more stylish, guys! Girls will appreciate that too...

Linen is not bad, but wrinkles easily. Rayon and other synthetics stink badly. And cotton is clingy and damp when it really gets hot. Yes, silk costs more. Oh well.

But yeah, you go on with your smelly rayon "CCW" shirt from Amazon, waiting for the girls to make eyes at you.

 

[Mizar]

But yeah, you go on with your smelly rayon "CCW" shirt from Amazon, waiting for the girls to make eyes at you.

If you see me wearing silk hawaiian shirt, kill me please.

 

[CapnMac]

as if this style of button down shirt is the only one available in the world...

Fair enough. Mind, "aloha" shirts, along with guyabara shirts are tailors with "square" tails; they are meant to be worn outside of trousers.

A scallop-hemmed dress shirt, worn untucked can scan as "sloppy"--which may not suit everyone's sense of decorum in some situations. Tastes and times vary.

A steam iron is a thing bro

True. If a tad pointless in >50%RH over 85°F

There are, typically, reasons behind regional fashions. The use of rayon and silk in tropical climates comes from how those fabrics will lay flat without ironing, and fit loosely enough to not make sweating 'worse.' That's also were the 8-12 ounce true flax linen suit became popular, too.

 

[CapnMac]

If you see me wearing silk hawaiian shirt, kill me please.

You are meaning something like this, yes?

And not like this:

Or this:

 

[sgt127]

A steam iron is a thing bro

Do a few wrinkles impede the draw much?

 

[JTQ]

Fair enough. Mind, "aloha" shirts, along with guyabara shirts are tailors with "square" tails; they are meant to be worn outside of trousers.

A scallop-hemmed dress shirt, worn untucked can scan as "sloppy"--which may not suit everyone's sense of decorum in some situations. Tastes and times vary.

I agree. I am surprised the un-tucked scallop-hemmed shirt has become "a thing". I think it is a bad look, but apparently lots of folks seem to like it.

Add bowling shirts to the square bottom shirt category. Watching Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper on "Two and a Half Men" wear his bowling shirts and cargo shorts always made me think he was packing a revolver on his hip.

 

[drobs]

It can be hard to find square bottom shirts. I get a lot of my clothing and button down shirts from Bass Pro. I like their RedHead brand.
https://www.basspro.com/l/mens-button-up-shirts#f-sleeve_length=Short Sleeve

I like the pockets on a plaid shirt to match the same lines as the main body of the shirt. Example:
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/redhead-cape-cod-short-sleeve-plaid-shirt-for-men

I dislike the western style pockets that have the pattern angled different than the body of the shirt. Example:
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/redhead-buffalo-plaid-short-sleeve-shirt-for-men

I also will wear a Hawaiian shirt every so often. This is me in Ft. Lauderdale last year. My left hand is resting on Ruger LC9s Pro worn OWB. This is my ugliest Hawaiian shirt. Yes I stick out even in Florida.

Me on the left wearing a Bass Pro RedHead plaid shirt Hog Hunting in Florida a month or so ago. I'm carrying my Glock 43X worn OWB.