When Fashion Meets Firearms: My Journey to Concealed Carry

When I first decided to carry a firearm, I was excited but also, honestly, a little overwhelmed. At the time, most of the people I knew who were gun owners were men, and I really didn’t have anyone to ask about how to make carrying work for me as a woman. I started seeking advice on EDC (Everyday Carry) and, over and over again, I kept hearing the same thing: “Bigger shirts.” “Baggy pants.”

And every time I heard that, I felt smaller.

I remember thinking to myself, “Is this it? Is this the only option?” It made me feel like I had to give up my style and identity just to be a REAL gun owner. I didn’t want to walk around in oversized clothes like I was stuck in a 2007 Soulja Boy music video just to feel safe.

I knew I had to make a choice. I could either follow this conventional advice, which felt so foreign to me, or I could find a way to make it work my way. I thought long and hard, and it was clear to me: There has to be a better solution. I wasn’t ready to give up my sense of self just to carry a firearm. There had to be a way to stay fashionable while staying protected.

So, I dove deep into finding options that would work for me—and for other women like me. I knew if I was struggling with this, there were probably thousands of other women facing the same challenge. And the idea of women giving up on their safety just because they couldn’t figure out how to put all the pieces together? That wasn’t something I could stand.

That’s when FAFO—Fashion and Firearms Only—was born. FAFO is for women who refuse to choose between safety and style. We’re not going to sacrifice one for the other. We can be fashionable, we can feel like ourselves, and we can prioritize our safety at the same time. And that’s something I’m really proud of.

I know there’s a better way, and I’m so glad to be on this journey with all of you, finding ways to stay protected without ever having to compromise who we are.