Jeans companies are in a VERY competitive business. They need every advantage they can get. Here's the theory:

"If a customer has on a pair of Lee Jeans and then tries on a pair of Levi's, but they levis say they're a 34 waist where the Lee's say they're a 36, they are "thinner" in the Levis, so that's what they'll buy". Cheesey corporate thoughts, but that's the way the country is... Same goes for T Shirts and Women's clothes. If you HAVE any t shirts from 25 years ago, you can do a little experiment. Break it out and compare it's size (if you can sill read it) to a t shirt from today. Back then a large was smaller than it is today. A large from 25 years ago fits like a Medium today.

As kiltmakers, we tell you the truth, no matter how much it hurts. As Robert said... we don't want to make the kilt more than once... we want it to fit right the first time.

One quick little tip... if you DON'T have a cloth tape measure, wrap a string or chain around you and mark where they overlap. Lay it flat on a table / floor and measure it with the tape measure. That'll be your waist measurement. Also... you may want to take the measurements 2 times... "measure twice, order once"