So I break things down into three categories, deep concealment, loose concealment )partially visible), open carry.
I would love to open carry. However
I live behind enemy lines. Connecticut may have been one of the top producing states for firearms, but these days it's a liberal hell hole of asshats ready to cause grief for you.
There are risks caring open here. First of all it's not allowed. You are begging to police to stop you. You are not required to inform the police you have a permit and a concealed weapon and I think it's best not to although some states I know it's required. I don't know which ones those would be.
Let's say open carry is allowed. If you're carrying a stainless steel revolver, and some liberal fool gets the hair up his ass, and calls the police on you and makes a false or anonymous report, the police will assume you are dangerous and who knows what will
happen.
If you're carrying a stainless steel revolver, as reported, and if that fact is confirmed, that makes the made up story more credible.
It is far better to keep it concealed if you have one, so no one can make up a story about you giving the police one corroborating fact to cause big trouble for you on purpose while watching from a distance and laughter. MTG has been SWATTED twice now they are vicious evil people and are remorseless,
uncompromising, and unrelenting. Don't give people ammo to use on you. It's better not to let anybody know that you're carrying ever.
I recently saw a video of a woman open carrying that was stripped of her gun while she was talking in the telephone. Seriously what kind of fool open carry's and then thinks no one will try to take it. Worse. Gabbing on the phone. So that in your car with the doors locked and stay alert. Always always always keep your doors locked. The one time I did not a black punk tried to rob me. My dog stopped him from ransacking my car.
Next: What I call loose concealment. OTW on a belt with a loose jacket. It could be on strong side hip or in a car a cross draw on the opposite hip. Well at times you may want to cool off and remove your jacket. I often carried a small pistol that was not particular noticeable. Sometimes I would untuck my shirt to cover it. Other time I'd try to put a chair between me and the sidearm with my side instead of my back against it to it was not visible.
That is still concealed but people can spot it. Many won't notice as they have no situational awareness.
There is a new design crosssdraw holster with snaps so you can remove it and switch to a pocket pistol. There are times I leave the holster on, rather than go through the process of remcong my belt and putting it back on. I also keep two sets of pants/belt: one with hikater and one without and can change pants faster than fencing a belt. One of my holster lay's flat—someone smart can spot it. One of my lawyer clients gave it a few glances and never said anything.
You can make the argument that if it's underneath a jacket where it still might be visible at times, that it is concealed. A pocket pistol with a handkerchief to disguise the shape works well in warm weather.
Carried Una car is consider concealed. In my state I would not want to leave it on the dash although that was acceptable in the past.
Last is deep concealment. This is where only your wife of GF knows you have one. My GF game me a hug the other day and felt my spare magazine. No one could spot it without touch. It was heart warming that she smiled and nodded her head. She liked the fact that I was not a pansy that would roll over and die in a bad situation and would protect her.
A holster such as IWB with a shirt covering works. Deep concealment holsters are harder and slower to access. A shoulder holster is easy to conceal. But requires a shirt on top of a T. A button can be left unbuttoned or the button can be moved to the button hole side so it doesnlt look unbuttoned. Many of my friends did this in the military with. In the military shirt pockets were required to be buttoned at all times.
I'm big and can make magazines disappear. Likewise a gun. Specialty clothing can help hide it also. Jackets with inside well shaped pockets, etc.
Imagine you are a spy Ninja in a foreign country. Unlike the movies where they like to wave guns around, display them, and take them way out early, running around with guns held up in the air with no attempt to conceal—laughable. Don't do that. Pretend a sniper is looking for the most dangerous target. Best to look weak and unprepared rather than a threat to be taken out first and cautiously.
You would want it hidden such that nobody had a clue you had anything on you. No one will be motivated to rob you if they don't know you have it. Also if you can't get it out quick they won't be able to either. It's a good idea to have a round in the chamber and be ready to use it one handed as you may need the other had to break a fall or fend off a knife attack.
My advice. Never open carry except at the range or in the woods hiking or camping. I love my open carry holster but don't use them all that much.
Loose concealment in places you visit often around people you know. Hide it well with strangers. Chose a holster like a Yaqui slide that does. It look like a holster when you remove the gun. I can remember many times as a youngster seeing men with bulges and things under shirt. I thought they were back braces. They were veterans well armed.
Deep conceal in public where there are crowds. You can't see everyone in a crowd. I avoid dangerous places. I am extra cautious in transitional spaces like gas stations and parking lots. I watch people around me. Pretend to drop my keys if I need to gauge someone. Be prepared to fend off someone getting too close. Turn you body such that your firearm is away from someone approaching. Have a backup.
Good luck.