Carryin' a gun, any gun, concealed and keepin it concealed, while still bein' able to get to it and get it out for use sometime today, presents a challenge that is difficult to meet, and as has been pointed out, is met by each of us in his or her own way.
Physical body size and construction makes a huge difference, as do clothing styles and weather conditions. I hear and read folks sayin' that they can carry their piece while wearin' elastic waistbanded shorts and a tank top without anybody else knowin they are carryin', and I say, "I just don't think so!"
I have always found that every choice involves compromises, and none of them work for every situation and circumstance. That's why you will probably at some point in the future have more than one handgun and more than one holster. It is a fact of my life that my pockets are always tight, as is my waistband!! I can carry a quarter in my pocket and you can tell if it is heads or tails!! I sometimes carry a Kel-Tec .32 in there, in a holster I made myself to give the appearance of carrying a billfold in my front pocket.
That is a smaller gun than I prefer, but it is much better than having none. I also can't do any real fast drawing from my pocket, so it requires me to keep my eyes and ears open and be aware ahead of time if I am gonna need it. That usually also gives me time to scoot on out of that situation and avoid it all together!! (Remember that your best and most important weapon is completely concealed and resides between your ears!)
I like a belt holster, designed to securely hold the weapon (usually a snub .38 special for me) in place with a good strong waist belt. But as has been said very well, that requires specific choices in wardrobes. I also have used the soft type IWB holsters with a spring clip to hold them in place very sucessfully over the years. I like carrying my snub inside my waist band pretty well, but it's a bad feeling when it goes south and you catch it somewhere (if you are lucky) down about the middle of your thigh as it heads for the ground!! These holsters also usually keep the grip a bit higher above your waistbelt or band and make getting a grip a bit easier.
As a curvy female type, you probably will find that most waist holsters tend to poke your more sensitive parts and make it difficult to get hold of and remove your piece, since it is leaning in toward your body instead of away. Much as I don't like carrying off the body, if I wuz a gurl, I sure would have to give thought to some of the well designed purses that will hold a serious piece. Still, ya gotta keep it in hand and keep somebody from snatchin'it!!
These days, I mostly carry my piece in my vehicle or on my scooter till I leave them, and then the very lightweight and no-fun-to-shoot snub goes in my waistband or front pocket. That means that pocket must be dedicated to the carry, without a bunch of other junk in there!!. And you will never know how heavy a pound is till you start carrying it all day and tryin' to find a comfortable place to do so that you can still get to quickly without exposing the weight to everybody around!!
Well, I have flapped longer than Mikey, and probably said much less, but these are things to think about. Please remember that whatever your choice, the compromise must still alllow access to the piece quickly. If ya can't get to it when ya need it, then be comfortable and leave it at home. Have yer head out in the light and BE AWARE. If ya have a choice, don't go where you are apt to have trouble. If you find yerself there and can do so, leave. Now! Discretion will ALWAYS be the better part of valor......
And good luck to ya as you try different options. You will soon be like the rest of us, with a box full of perfectly good holsters that you found won't work for you, at least not all the time, and with more than one choice of weapon. Whatever you carry, compromise or not, you gotta be able to lay yer hand on it now for it to be of any use. Mouse gun or not, I have not found anybody yet willing to stand still and let me shoot 'em 4 or 5 times with my .22 or my .32, or yet my .38 special. Remember the first rule: If yer in a gun or a knife fight, always have a gun!! Rule #2, more important than #1, avoid all fights if at all possible!! Rule #3, if a fight is forced on ya, do not hesitate. Do everything within your power to end it quick. Be savage, do not fight fair, bring all the hurt you possibly can to bear so as to end it and make it so that nobody else wants to fight with you, ever!!
