Oh, Fashion.

Alright girls (and guys), let's talk about fashion.  You know, there's a lot of trends and a lot of fads that come and go.  To some extent, we're all limited by the clothes and styles that are available in the stores at any given time.  That being said, the fashion world is not exactly working to give us clothes that make concealment easy.  In a world where your figure needs to be displayed under skin-tight shirts, and no one actually uses pockets, it can seem like carrying and being stylish don't go together.

Style is all about the right accessories... even the ones you conceal!

Especially women's clothing, yikes.  I recently read an article called "The 7 Most Baffling Things About Women's Clothes."  (FYI, crude humor and language.)  And what do you know, most of the things that baffled that author can also present quite a conundrum for us gals who need to pack a little heat along with our other accessories, too!

For one thing, the article points out, lots of women's clothing is made out of material that is way too thin.  Whether clothing designers do this because they think it looks good, or because they want you to buy more layers, it definitely causes a problem for concealing a gun.  The most obvious problem is the possibility of seeing a black gun through a thin shirt.  Plus, if we're talking thin and tighter, that fabric is going to form itself nicely around your gun, showing off its outline.

Thus, layering!  That author thinks the layering trend is a conspiracy, meant to make us spend more money on more layers.  Which is a definite possibility.  But, layering is also really useful for carrying.  An extra layer adds structure and opacity, and is a super simple way to obscure anything you're wanting to hide.  You'd be amazed at the power of a simple tank top to completely smooth out any gun's outline under a thinner blouse.

You know what I don't get?  Pockets.  And neither does the aforementioned author.  As she points out, lots of women's pieces have ridiculously small pockets, or even fake pockets!

"Sure, there will be unsightly bulges if they put too much in their pockets, but the solution isn't to take them away -- the solution is to trust women to have the common sense to not put a bag of rocks in their pocket. These pockets are just fine for carrying a key or some cash or credit cards, and it's stupid to not give anyone that option because some idiot might try to put, I don't know, night-vision goggles or a piece of cake in their pocket."

... Or a gun.  Actually, the right gun in the right pocket holster can totally be hidden in a pocket, just not any pocket I've ever seen on women's jeans.  Okay, so pockets are not the most essential thing for concealed carry, but it'd be a nice option to have!  Anyone out there in clothing manufacturing who can tell me why we're not allowed to have decent sized pockets in our jeans?

Anyways, the article goes on to discuss the problems of women's clothing showing more skin than men's, how hard it is to find a decent t-shirt, and the lack of "normal" casual clothes.  As annoying as it is, I'm probably not going to start making my own clothes anytime soon, so I have to work with what I've got.

Layering with a tank top is probably my favorite concealment solution, along with wearing cute cardigans and jackets.  Do you have any favorite strategies for making it work?

One last thing, I've learned through trial and error that it is actually much easier to conceal in a lot of "typical" women's clothes than I would have thought.  When you haven't tried it, an inch or two of firearm seems like a lot to hide!  But it's amazing what you can do once you get to know the clothes and the curves you've got!

Cardigans and Cupcakes!

Why hello there, October!  Can you believe we are so far into fall already?  I can't, mainly because the temperatures keep jumping between the fifties and the eighties.  But, regardless of how the thermometer feels, I've decided it's definitely time for fall.

I made Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes, oh yes!  Recipe

Autumn is without a doubt my favorite season.  Beautiful colors, warm baked goods, cozy clothing, and a general feeling of comfort.  Today I pulled out my fall boots, even though the high was eighty.  But the best part, if you ask me, is the sweaters.  In particular, and especially in these early weeks of indecisive weather, cardigans.

Cardigans are great!  Usually light weight, they can be worn on warmer days or layered for colder ones.  They are classic.  Audrey Hepburn rocked them, and they are still wildly popular today.  They can be dressed up or dressed down.  Versatility!

My own collection of cardigans has grown quite a bit recently!  Clearly I am into embellished cardigans.

Clearly I am *very* into cardigans.

And of course, they conceal!  Cardigans conceal spectacularly.  Typically they're a bit looser around the middle, so they can easily hide a bulge whether you wear them buttoned up or open.

A lot of concealment is about the art of distraction.  Layers, different types of fabric, textures, all distract nicely from any shapes that might otherwise be noticed as not quite natural.

And a lot of the reasons that cardigans are so great also apply to clothing in general when looking for things that will conceal well:

• The fabric has some structure to it 
• It's not too clingy, even if it’s tight-fitting 
• Not too thin 
• The garment allows some space between you and it 
• Texture hides bumps

Encouragingly, cardigans can be worn well by anyone.  So find what inspires you, whether it’s color, texture, embellishments, or accessories, and get ready to conceal fashionably for fall!

What's This All About?

Style is important.  We’ve all got our own style, and that’s how it should be!  Along the same lines, we all care about how we look.  Some people care more than others, but I don’t think I’ve met anyone who literally didn’t care at all.

Your style is how you present yourself to the world.  It gives a first impression, gives people an idea of how you feel about yourself and how you feel about life!  I know, that’s a little heavy when making six a.m. decisions about what to wear…

I wouldn’t ever call myself a fashionista.  But I do enjoy being “stylish.”  I enjoy putting together new outfits from my closet, and I feel better about myself on days when I’m successful at it.  I like to dress somewhat professionally, and I enjoy being a little fancy!  (My hubby apparently thinks I often overdress…)

Hubby and I being fashionable

Anyways, it was several months ago when the discussion of getting our concealed carry permits came up in our household.  In some preliminary internet research about women’s carry options, I came across an article written by a woman.

Great!  A woman’s perspective!

Within the first paragraph, I read, “You’re going to have to start buying jeans in the men’s department.”

Seriously?!

If I hadn’t already decided that this was what I wanted to do, I’m pretty sure that line would have completely turned me off.  And I’ve been using firearms for a long time.  I can only imagine what that would do to a girl who’s trying to decide whether or not she should buy a gun, let alone try to carry one.

So, here’s what I’m trying to prove… and this list will probably continue to grow!

• We women should be able to carry concealed handguns just as easily as the boys can
• We shouldn’t have to make drastic changes to our style (small changes, yes)
• Carrying a handgun should be comfortable, and practical
• We can still be cute while protecting ourselves!

Now, I know I’ll never be able to carry a pocket pistol in a pair of skinny jeans.  But I think with a little creativity, some good equipment, and an awareness of how to conceal in different types of clothing, being fashionable, and discreet, while carrying a handgun should be completely possible!

What are you trying to prove?