Cornered Cat|Scratching Post always presents such well-reasoned wisdom. You should read this link in particular, if you’re not already reading her blog. Then you should remedy the situation by reading it, regularly.
Kathy Jackson walks us through the thought process of the new female shooting student. After all, generally women are more concerned with fashion dictates. (Yes, I know, Brigid, not every woman! 
)
Some student concerns:
One person expressed it very well when she wrote, “[The Cornered Cat] course requires a holster type I have no intention of ever using. So that means even more money spent on a holster and clothing that would only be used the days of the class.”
Another person wrote something similar: “I’d have to invest in pants with belt loops, belt, and holster that I would probably never use again just to take one or two classes.”
Kathy intones:
Putting a loaded gun into a holster is the single most dangerous thing anyone ever does in a professional firearms training class.
I remember Jeff Cooper poo-pooing fashion with regard to its dictates versus the need to carry safely. An no one would have ever called The Colonel a fashion plate. After all, what’s more important?
And men, don’t gloss over going to Kathy Jackson’s link because it’s aimed at women. Her above quote applies to you, as well.
Both in training and (daily) carry, safety should be our foremost concern. We are dealing with lethal instrumentalities, after all.
Fashion should come second. Or even farther down the list.
As I’m on disability, my daily wear is usually a colored T-shirt, a long-sleeve over-shirt, Wrangler jeans, a belt from The Wilderness and my diabetic orthopedic walking shoes, with my right one built-up (aka ‘Ed’, the really big shoe). On more formal occasions, I’ve been known to substitute a polo shirt. George Clooney eat your heart out! (I know – your bodyguards probably dress better!)
My shooting wear isn’t much different, except for the addition of my Tilly Hat and eyes/ears. And sunglasses.
If you need to purchase (or perhaps borrow?) some clothes or holsters to meet the requirements of a particular class, I say go for it. More training is always better.
h/t Kathy Jackson, Jeff Cooper
Since I’m a bit on the fluffy side, I wear a over size T-shirt. It covers my 1911 just fine. For dressier occasions I have a Galco IWB.
Posted by robertsgunshop | March 10, 2013, 7:56 amMakes sense to me!
Posted by guffaw1952 | March 10, 2013, 7:58 amMy psych class in college referred to that kind of thinking as “functional fixedness”: the inability to think in more than one, fixed track. It’s sad.
If you have to modify the way they dress to accommodate an accessory (in this case, a firearm), then so be it. But if fashion is more important than self-protection, then I suggest they’re on the wrong planet.
Posted by Rev. Paul | March 10, 2013, 9:37 am“If they”, not “if you”. …sigh… not enough coffee. Can’t brain.
Posted by Rev. Paul | March 10, 2013, 9:38 amHAHAHAHA!
Posted by guffaw1952 | March 10, 2013, 9:43 am‘wrong planet’. Priceless!
Posted by guffaw1952 | March 10, 2013, 9:42 am