Hope this is the right place for this question. Where I live there is little to no selection for conceal carry, button up type shirts so I will be ordering off the net. In the past, I haven't had very good luck with fit and am paranoid about ordering. I'm 6' and about 190 lbs, and a 37 or 38" waist. I carry OWB about the 4 o'clock position. Anybody have any words of wisdom on fit, brand, size, or carry worthiness. You guys are always helpful and I appreciate it.

I've never bought special carry clothing. I'm about your size. I just buy a tshirt that's form fitting but not tight. I go to a store, grab a bunch of shirts I like in several sizes (since no two companies make the same size) and try them on. Then buy the ones that fit and looked good. However, I carry IWB so that makes it a lot easier to conceal

Unless you are one of the High speed/low drag" kind of guys () I frankly think the special concealed carry shirts are unnecessary. I sometimes carry using a shoulder holster, and what I find works best in this Texas heat is to wear an Under Armour type of tee shirt, with a square bottomed button up shirt as a cover garment. I don't usually button the top shirt unless it's windy. Also, if you find a darker, patterned type of shirt, it will help break up the outlines of your holster, as well as anything else you are toting.

Regards,

Dave

I'm 6'2", 200 lbs. w/a 36" waist and never found the special concealed clothing very helpful. Too expensive and since everyone is different the fit just does not work. Some of these tee shirts hide the gun but make it almost impossible to get at it when/if needed in a hurry. My two cents; save your money for range time.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Yeah Dave I live in College Station and know what you mean about the heat.

LL Bean sells many variations of TALL shirts. They are longer in length and have longer sleeves. Looser fit is a bit better and in today's world of scraggly beards, torn up jean and wild hair, no one will look twice at a shirt that is not neatly tucked in.

PS: No intention to insult anybody's "look", but it is what it is........

You might try Academy sporting goods. I like the square hemmed fishing shirts and they come in all sorts of colors and patterns.

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On the Oak Savannah

I have a couple 5.11 tactical shirts that work well.

They use snaps (that look like buttons from the outside) and are short sleeve.

I find their sizes are about right. I wear XL and these shirts in XL are a little bigger than most other XLs. But you want that since you don't want the gun to print.

The thinking is you can just pull the snaps open if you need to get a weapon from under the shirt.

I was issued a couple of those shirts when y was doing church security and I don't think they're worth the fifty bucks. You can get 2 Dickie's shirts for the price of one of them

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Retired Career Security Guard

Aloha,

Altho Hawaii does not have carry of any kind for the average citizen,

I would suggest getting an Aloha shirt made of stiff material.

Doesn't matter if heavy cotton or synthetics.

My Minnesota friend says that Aloha shirts are popular on Minneapolis.

I have sent some to a gun friend in Houston.

Get it several sizes larger than what you would normally wear.

You can check the 2nd hand stores if they have any.

Years ago, I bought some for $10 from K Mart

Locally any tourist oriented store has a lot.

I always try to find the Loudest, in your face colorful shirts.

The loud colorful pattern should hide your gun easily.

You just need a shirt that is about 1 size larger than what fits you normally.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I'm in about the same league as you are, size-wise. What works best for me is fairly straightforward.

A heavier-weave cotton shirt, size 2XL - this may vary depending on maker - sometimes an XL will work as well. Worn tail out, of course.

A dark color - black, navy blue, etc. should be the base color.

A patterned shirt (floral design, abstract pattern, stripes, etc.) is best to break up any "printing" and shadows.

This will normally work quite well for IWB or OWB carry at the recommended 4:00 position for right-handers.

I carry my Hip-grip equipped J-frames in my right hand Levi's front pocket, with the lip of the right grip keeping the grip above the pocket line. Using this method, almost any tail-out shirt will be acceptable with no discernible "printing."

Hope this helps.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I like long sleeved T shirts myself. Suggest you try Berne T shirt in Regular XL. You can find them on the net by several retailers or go direct to Berne.
They are generously sized. The regular is just as long as the famous
T shirt company that advertises that they are 3 inches longer. I got free shipping and excellent service from Berne direct.

Thanks for the input guys

Concealed means obscured from view.

Concealed does not mean undetectable.

Check out the Goodwill store. Lots of button-up shirts that you can try on for size; buy them or use them as your size guide for 'new' shirts.

I am in Houston and either IWB or use a shoulder holster. A light t shirt under a Columbia fishing shirt works well for me in the Spring, Summer and Fall

You might look into t-shirts and outer shirts at Duluth Trading Company .. you may have seen their Buck Naked commercials on TV ..

Their t-shirts are 3 inches longer then normal T-shirts and will help to cover the weapon ..

High quality clothing ..

I'll second the recommendation for Duluth Trading Company. I wear their clothes almost exclusively. Shirts with the added length are great and I find almost all their pants/shorts have heavy duty extra large pockets. Get their free catalog or visit their website for the full line of their clothing

Forgive me but: Get some T-shirts printed up that say " Ask Me About My Colostomy Bag" on the front.
There are actually some guys in and around San Antonio who, if they are asked 'What is that on your belt', say it's their Colostomy Bag. It works every time.

Ask them if they would like to help you change it. Don't do that with college students, they don't even know where they are.

To go a little bit cheaper than the specific CCW manufacturers, try outdoor stores like REI, Cabellas, etc. They often have button up shirts, some with a few extra pockets, that look nice but are often cheaper than 5.11, Blackhawk, etc. REI has an outlet website as well ...

Why wouldn't they just answer truthfully; "It's my carry pistol"?

Oh wait, are they carrying without a permit?

Hawaiian shirts are a good way to go, unless you have to be more conservatively dressed for work. Lately I've been shopping at Sierra Trading Post, where they have really good pricing on name-brand duds. The other option would be to pocket carry a J-frame or a small semi-auto.

Because it's none of their damned business. They also happen to be Peace Officers.

So you're saying that the colostomy bag lie is better than either of the two truthful options, "It's my pistol" or "It's none of your business"?

Do these peace officers routinely lie when asked questions?

Whays your body type? I carry a k frame service size revolver under a t shirt but i also have a broad upper torso

Kohls has a nice variety of shirts cut for outside the britches. I just go in with my carry gun and start trying them on. Dark colors and patterned shirts are definitely best. "Charlie Sheen" shirts, as my brother calls them work very well for dressier occasions.

Since you don't have a good selection where you live you might just have to make a road trip to the city and shop for shirts.

I live in College station as well! What a small world.
I don't bother with any of the specialized concealed carry shirts, but that's really just because I've never thought they would be worth it. I do like the Duluth trading clothes also however.
For you guys that carry IWB, do you wear a size larger pants than what you normally would?

Baseball jerseys are my go to. Normal fitting t shirt underneath and a jersey that is loose.

Yes........

Probably obvious, but account for shrinkage when selecting size. We've probably all had a garment at one time or another that fit new, but was too tight after washing.

I carry model 60 iwb, im 6'2 185 with a 32in waist. I still wear the same size shirts and jeans that I wore before I carried.
I do plumbing and hvac work, so im not just standing straight up walking around town. I have to carry at 3-3:30 at work to keep from printing.
works for me

I use button-down short-sleeve shirts with straight hems, untucked. I usually go for patterns and/or dark colors made of relatively heavy fabric, even in the summer. I wear a size larger than I normally would. I get them at one of the local department stores when they're on sale, usually towards the end of the summer when they're trying to close out their inventory to make room for fall items. I've used these shirts to conceal K-frames and a Glock 23 carried IWB.

This is one of those personal preference things. I don't wear pants that are a size larger, but I do make sure my gun belt will accomodate my gun and holster.

I'm female and also carry OWB at about 4 o'clock. Hips make sizing and things different for women but I can offer a few suggestions. I can't stand untucked shirts so my carry uniform is a tucked in t-shirt, Henley or polo shirt and then a 1 size larger Men's shirt or a casual women's shirt as a jacket. If you can, try to get them with flat square tails or modify them to be that. Darker colors and patterns print less than solids and light colors. I never button the top shirt but it still works for me to conceal.

Because I live in a rural area I always buy mail order. I am also hard to fit with wide hips, need a short rise in pants and have short arms and legs. I am also rather tough on clothing. My mail order suggestions, I stick to brands like Duluth, LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, Cabela's, Lands' End and Travelsmith. Always buy from a place that offers free returns. When buying items for the first time buy the size you think you need, the size smaller and the size larger. Return the ones that don't fit. Keep a document that lists the brand, size and exact model/style of all clothing that fits. The next to skin shirt is ideally an all natural fabric, silk, hemp, wool and linen are good for wicking sweat in hot climates or when working. Avoid anything with nylon or polyester, they not only get really smelly after a few hours sweating in them but also will make you hotter. I know there are supposedly wicking modern fabrics but in actual practice for me they do not work at all. You might think that wool would be hot but the ideal cover even in summer and outside working (I am a farmer and work outside all summer) is a linen, hemp or silk t-shirt or polo shirt covered by either a woolen/silk blend or pure wool or canvas overshirt. That is actually cooler than short sleeves. Cotton tends to get very sticky and sopping wet when you sweat rather than wicking the moisture away but works as the outside layer. Knit fabrics for next to skin are more wicking than woven fabrics.

Because women's clothing styles change so frequently I've found that once I get something that fits I buy a bunch at once to save hassle next time. I hate to go clothes shopping so I'd rather do it all on-line.

If you can find one (they are scarcer than hen's teeth) a good tailor can do all sorts of mods to your outer cover garments to make the seem fitted but still be loose enough to allow access to your firearm.

ps Look at cost per wear for your clothing. I am perfectly willing to pay $50-75 or even more for good quality items when I know I can get 100 or more wears out of them. Washing them carefully will lengthen their lifespan. I've got shirts I bought for $40 over 20 years ago that still look nice enough to wear out to town and some I bought a few years ago that are on their last legs. Price isn't always an indicator of quality construction.

I wear men's dress shirts: button down mostly. I don't wear pull over type shirts - except for a t shirt under my dress shirt.

I don't buy slim tailored shirts.

I can't imagine why I would buy a specially constructed garment for concealed carry.

I carry in a DelFatti iwb holster (Colt Commander).

I've bought several square bottom "no tuck" shirts from Kohl's too. Work great!!

A great number of people are no longer tucking the shirt in, rather wearing it "untucked" Go to untuckit.com for some examples. Also 511 Tactical as someone already mentioned is extremely good quality wear.

[QUOTE=chief38;138939159]LL Bean sells many variations of TALL shirts. They are longer in length and have longer sleeves. Looser fit is a bit better and in today's world of scraggly beards, torn up jean and wild hair, no one will look twice at a shirt that is not neatly tucked in.

Eddie Bauer and Land's End also have tall sizes.

Hanes beefy tee..buy just big enough to cover my service size revolver. I don't understand all the special clothing

I don't..my k frame still fits inside fine. But then again denim stretches a bit