Best OWB/IWB Holster Fits for Fall
Jul 30th 2020
Smoky nights by the fire, haunted hayrides, apple picking, and Thanksgiving feasts are all staples of the wonderful season of fall. Gathering with family and friends to go turkey hunting or to set off to a harvest craft festival means you get to wear warm and comforting flannel, blue jeans, or dress up in your favorite orange and black fall sweater.
Your carry holster can be part of your ensemble, and you can seamlessly integrate it into any outfit you love. Whether you want to open carry or concealed carry, there is a holster style and color that can complement your fall attire and still remain accessible when you need it.
OWB vs. IWB: Which One Is Best?
The best and worst part about fall is that you can’t always predict what the weather will be. In fact, you may have to dress in layers for chilly mornings, warm afternoons, and cool evenings.
However, the layers can be a good thing if you’re wearing an OWB holster. OWB holsters, or outside-the-waistband holsters, sit outside of your pants along your waist. It is secured using a sturdy gun belt, and the loops keep it in place, despite your movements throughout the day.
Paddle holsters are a type of OWB holster, but the holster itself is removable from the paddle. The paddle sits secured between your waistband and your body. Some people, including law enforcement, prefer a paddle to a regular OWB holster because of the ability to quickly attach and detach the holster when switching vehicles or going in and out of courthouses.
OWB and paddle holsters are not typically ideal for deep concealment. This is especially true if you have a full-sized gun whose profile and barrel are more difficult to obscure. Because the barrel isn’t secured between your waistband and body, it may protrude, which is a surefire giveaway that you are carrying a gun.
This is not to say that you can’t successfully conceal carry with an OWB. You just need to get creative. Luckily, in the fall, it’s easier (and less out-of-place) to throw on a hoodie or a light jacket than it is in the summer.
IWB, or inside-the-waistband holsters, are easier to conceal, especially if you wear form-fitting clothing. For women, IWB is especially useful to tuck between a comfy pair of slacks and a blouse.
IWB holsters secure to a gun belt using loops or belt clips. You can situate it anywhere along your waist, but most people are comfortable with the appendix carry position. Compact and subcompact pistols are better for IWB carry because they are less bulky, which can get uncomfortable during all-day wear against your body.
Color Schemes and Patterns
Fall is the perfect time to experiment with new colors and patterns for your OWB and IWB holsters. Just because your gun may come in a black polymer frame doesn’t mean your holster has to be the same. Warm, earthy tones blend in seamlessly with the foliage, bonfires, and festive fall décor.
At Incognito Concealment, our holsters come in 30 color schemes and pattern options. Start with the brown family and you’ll quickly find it blends in well with dark greens, reds, purples, and oranges. Coyote Brown, Desert Tan, Desert Fox, Dark Earth Fall, and Dark Earth Spring all make excellent pairing options for these outfit color choices.
For those who love Halloween, pick Hunter Orange or Tactical Black to coordinate with your own black-and-orange outfit. If you love to mix black-and-purple instead, choose the bright Purple Haze to complement your outfit and your pistol.
You can also pair greens with yellow, orange, black, dark blue, and red. Choose from Foliage Green, Olive Drab, and Forest Digital Camo to pair with these hues. If you love red, select either Blood Red or Blood for a holster that makes a bold statement with your fall attire.
For a more neutral color to pair with off-white blends, coffee-colored shirts, and khaki pants, consider Desert Digital Camo, Banshee Camo, Highlander Camo, Mandrake Camo, or Nomad Camo.
3 Best OWB/IWB Holster Fits for Fall for Men
If you want to make a statement look at your next fall festival, consider these fun autumn ensembles that pair well with your pistol.
1.) The Rugged Outdoorsman
What You’ll Need: Jeans, white T-shirt, hiking boots, brown leather gun belt, and waxed cotton brown jacket
This ensemble pairs the ruggedness that comes with jeans and a T-shirt with the outdoorsiness of hiking boots and a brown cotton jacket. The brown gun belt should complement the brown hiking boots.
Because you’ll have on a brown belt and shoes, you absolutely cannot pair this with a black holster. Opt for Coyote Brown or Dark Earth Fall Kydex colors for an OWB or paddle holster, and Desert Tan or one of the tan camo options for an IWB holster.
If you own a Glock 19 X, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, a Springfield Hellcat 9mm Desert FDE, or an SCCY CPX-1, now is the time to flaunt their Dark Earth, Desert, Coyote, or Burnt Bronze frames. However, if you only have a black-framed pistol, it won’t clash. Black-and-brown color schemes on pistols actually blend together quite well, even against a brown belt and boots.
Take off the jacket when it gets too warm during the day, and throw it back on at night when it grows chilly. Tuck in your white T-shirt, and you’ll only have to move your jacket out of the way to reach your gun holster.
2.) The Date Night
What You’ll Need: Tan khakis, long-sleeved dark red sweater, black Doc Martens shoes, accessorize with aviator sunglasses and a silver watch.
This outfit is a casual, yet distinguished look for a night out on the town with your date. Black shoes means a black gun belt, which is usually easier to pair with most gun holster colors, but you’ll need to avoid brown finishes.
Use this look with an IWB holster, unless you are bringing along a light jacket. While OWB carry may be legal in your jurisdiction, leave the OWB holster home for the night, unless your outing is at the gun range.
The sweater should be loose-fitting at the bottom to properly conceal your IWB holster’s profile. Choose Blood Red or Blood color schemes to further blend your holster in with your dark red sweater. Alternatively, you can also match Typhon Camo, Tactical Black, and Armour Black with the khakis, black gun belt, and black Doc Martens.
3.) The Al Borland
What You’ll Need: Long-sleeved button-down flannel shirt, jeans, brown or black work boots, accessorize with a vest and trucker hat.
In a nod to the lovable character from Home Improvement who even wore flannel underwear, this outfit makes fall the most comfortable season of the year. However, you can step the flannel look up a few notches by carefully accessorizing, making your seemingly casual ensemble stylish and eye-catching. The best part is you can rotate your flannel shirt collection throughout the season.
If you are wearing flannel with orange and red hues, opt for a brown gun belt and work boots. If your flannel has hints of black, grey, blue, or green, choose black instead. Because of the loose fit of a button-down flannel shirt, you can choose between IWB or OWB holsters. If you’re using an OWB holster, just ensure that the shirt is long enough to properly cover your gun.
Avoid patterns with your holster since these can clash with the square pattern of your shirt. Instead, opt for a solid color scheme that complements the colors in your flannel and your belt and shoes.
Accessorize your ensemble with a solid-colored vest. Choose a vest with zippered pockets to carry extra magazines if you’d rather not wear a mag holster. A note of caution with a vest: The vest can sometimes be too snug and make your flannel shirt rise up, exposing your pistol. Choose a lightweight, loose vest and don’t zipper it up.
Add a trucker’s hat for days spent walking around a sunny fall festival or for going apple picking. The trucker’s hat should also complement the colors in your flannel shirt.
3 Best OWB/IWB Holster Fits for Fall for Women
Fall provides a great opportunity to combine autumn fashion with practicality for all body types, so you can stay protected no matter where you go. Here are some fall outfit ideas to complement your handgun.
1.) Boots and Cardigan Weather
What You’ll Need: Skinny jeans, brown ankle- or knee-high boots, brown gun belt, a long gray cardigan, loose-fitting white V-neck T-shirt, accessorize with a brown satchel or safari handbag
Finally, it’s the time of year so many women love, because it means you get to take out your favorite boots and comfy cardigan to pair with a pumpkin-spiced coffee. Luckily, with a cardigan, you can easily hide your IWB or OWB holster, but the cut of the cardigan may determine where your gun can sit along your waistline.
Cardigans with longer sides and a waist-height back may not work as well for concealment as even-length options. If you move a lot, or tend to wear your holster on your hip or back, you run the risk of exposing your pistol’s location. Instead, opt for an even-length cardigan that reaches to your mid-thigh for optimal concealment.
The brown gun belt, boots, and handbag mean you’ll have to accessorize your holster to match. Choose between Coyote Brown or Dark Earth Fall to complement the hues of your handbag and boots.
A word about boots: If you’re planning to walk to many places by yourself, or late at night, opt for boots without a heel so you have maximum balance and control if you need to draw your pistol for self-defense. In fact, it may be wise to practice shooting wearing different styles of boots so you can get used to how the recoil feels when your feet are not flat against the ground.
2.) Leggings and Shirt Dress
What You’ll Need: Black leggings, a printed shirt dress, black cardigan, sturdy brown belt, brown knee-high boots, accessorize with a brown clutch
Just because you want to carry, doesn’t mean you have to ditch those comfy leggings. However, you’ll need to get creative to find the perfect fit that doesn’t rely on your leggings to hold the holster. This is where a sturdy belt comes in handy.
Prints are a great choice, as are flowy materials, when you’re carrying a pistol. Wear the leggings beneath a printed shirt dress that incorporates some black and white. Choose a sturdy belt that sits high on your waist and does not move easily. Secure your holster to this belt, and hide it with the long cardigan.
While the belt should be brown to match your boots, the cardigan is optimal for concealed carry, so the holster color does not matter as much. Choose from Tactical Black, Coyote Brown, Gun Metal Gray, and Armour Black Kydex holsters.
3.) Sweater Weather
What You’ll Need: Tan hip-length long-sleeved sweater, blue skinny jeans, black ankle- or knee-high boots, black gun belt, accessorize with a puffy vest or infinity scarf and black tote bag.
There’s nothing like pulling out that comfy sweater for an autumn stroll in the park. Loose-fitting and warm, sweater weather is the best part of fall. Combine the solid colors with blue skinny jeans that slide easily into your boots, and make it fashionable with strategically-ripped legs.
To add some flare to the ensemble, combine your sweater with a solid-colored puffy vest. Dark red or olive green work well with the tan sweater. You can also add an infinity scarf, although so many layers may quickly become uncomfortable, so you may wish to choose one or the other. The infinity scarf can be patterned, like a plaid or a solid black to match your boots.
The loose sweater can hide an IWB or OWB holster with ease. If you wear a puffy vest, keep it unzipped as a snug fit can sometimes lift your sweater to reveal your pistol’s position. Choose a light-colored holster to match your sweater, such as Desert Tan, Highlander Camo, or Nomad Camo. Choose Blood Red or Olive Drab if you are using a similar-colored puffy vest.
Alternatively, you can make a statement with a bright OWB holster, such as Tiffany Blue, Hot Pink, or Purple Haze. With the tan sweater and blue jeans, these colors can highlight your fun personality.
Final Thoughts
Incognito Concealment is a premier Kydex holster designer that can help you seamlessly integrate your pistol into your fall wardrobe. With adjustable retention, ride height, and cant, you can find the perfect position and color for your daily IWB or OWB carry. For more information on our wide selection of holsters, contact us today at (586) 333-4240.
