Dr. D...

If you're stuck on those 2 tartans (I love them both personally... something about red and black together), I'd go with the McAnarchist. It is the bigger of the 2.

It's tough to do a "beer gut cut" with tartan. I can do it on my Vicory kilts b/c they are solid material. When you move into the realm of tartan (and ANY Patterened garment), you have a design to deal with... hence, no beer gut cut on the tartan.

If you're getting a Philabeg, I'd measure [b]where you wear your pants. That's basically where the Philabeg (or Casual for that matter) sit comfortably. The Traditional should be measured around the naval as it rests more naturally on the hips.

Your pants companies lie to you to make you feel good about your waistline. I wear 34/36 jeans and I measure a TRUE 38. Don't feel bad... you should see what they do to women! When a woman comes in to get measured, they come to the brink of TEARS at times... "I'm not THAT fat... that's the size pants my HUSBAND wears... that tape measure MUST be wrong (I keep 2 backups to prove it's accurate)". Cruel, but the truth hurts sometimes.