My wife will only use the Enigma. Shes tried all kinds of gimmicky "made for women" stuff.
Also buying a tiny gun is going to make her not want to shoot at all.
My wife carries a G19, and an HD3.6 she absolutely hates shooting tiny guns.
If she doesnt enjoy shooting it, she wont practice with it. If she doesnt practice with it, she is safer not carrying it.
Then it depends on what county you are in, and their qualification process. Our county requires 25 yard shots on a timer, our city took it a step further, 25 yard shots, then drop to 1 knee and shoot more,all on a timer.
I considered the bodyguard 2.0 as a boot gun, and even though i shoot 2000 rounds a month and feel like im a pretty decent shooter, Im not sure I could pass our qual with it.
Just my pair of pennies of course.
Have her shoot it before you buy it, unless you wanted it anyways
@Aura510 can chime in on her own
Lol you guys have the CCW qual from hell. 25 yard shot on the bad guy means you're going to jail probably xD
The best overall answer is
on-body, beltless appendix carry using a rigid trigger-covering holster system, especially something like the
PHLster Enigma concept. It was basically made for this problem: carrying without belt loops, including dresses, skirts, leggings, and women’s clothing that does not support a normal gun belt. PHLster describes it as a beltless concealed carry holster system that does not require a belt.
For women wearing skirts and dresses, I’d rank the methods like this:
Best: Enigma-style beltless AIWB carry.
This keeps the gun attached to the body, gives a consistent draw, allows a real Kydex holster, and does not depend on the skirt waistband. It is usually the most serious option. The downside is setup time. It takes adjustment, and bathroom access can be more annoying than normal IWB.
Good: belly band, but only with a real Kydex shell.
A plain elastic fabric pocket is not ideal because it can collapse, shift, or fail to protect the trigger properly. Belly bands are versatile and can work with dresses, but the retention and reholstering issues are real. USCCA notes belly bands can conceal well but can have retention and reholstering drawbacks.
Situational: thigh holster.
This can work with flowy dresses or skirts, especially A-line or full skirts, but it is not as universally good as people think. The draw can be awkward, slower, and more conspicuous because the hand has to go under the dress. It can also shift when walking unless the holster is well-designed. It is more viable with a small pistol and a dress/skirt with enough fabric movement. A bodycon or pencil skirt makes this much harder.
Last resort: off-body purse carry.
It is better than not carrying, but it is objectively worse for retention, access, and control. If she does purse carry, it needs a dedicated CCW compartment, a fixed holster inside, and the purse stays physically controlled at all times. USCCA specifically warns that off-body carry requires attention to access and retention, including a dedicated holster compartment and a robust strap system.
The non-negotiables are:
The trigger must be fully covered by a rigid holster. The gun must not move independently from the body. The draw must be practiced from the actual clothing. Reholstering should be slow and deliberate, ideally with the holster removed if the clothing makes safe reholstering questionable. A dress carry method that hides well but gives a sketchy draw is not a good method.
For a woman who regularly wears skirts and dresses, I’d set her up with a
micro-compact or slim compact, an
Enigma or similar beltless chassis, and then optionally a
thigh holster only for specific outfits. Purse carry would be the backup plan, not the primary plan.
