I am in the process of purchasing three Balmoral bonnets, Robert Mackie bonnets to be precise, in the fawn, lovat green, and lovat blue colors. I am still a wee bit unsure if I should order them with or without a diced band? I do love the look of the diced band, only on the lighter colored Balmoral bonnets, and have often seen many "older" Highland men at various gatherings and games wearing their bonnets with the dicing. It is wonderful look to me, and perhaps I have already made my decision, but I would like a few snippets of advice from you all, to see what your interpretations are. I currently own a navy blue Balmoral with a matching toorie, a black Balmoral with a matching toorie, a navy Balmoral with a red toorie, and a black Balmoral with a red toorie-all of which have plain bands with no dicing. I do not wish to look like I am a member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland with the red and white, and the red, white, and black dicing used on the black and navy Balmoral bonnets. However, the plain white and fawn, white and lovat green, and white and lovat blue dicing combinations look appropriate, kind of "old school," which I like, and quite handsome to me. Also, keeping up with the long standing tradition of my clan, the Clan Macpherson, all of my Balmoral bonnets that I currently own have the ribbons trailing behind (the men amongst the Clan Macpherson do not tie them in a bow). I more than likely will keep the tradtion alive with the lighter colored Balmoral bonnets, yet I quite like the look of those specific colors with the ribbons tied. Very smart. Any advice and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am sure Jock will have something to say about this thread, as I have seen his new fawn colored Balmoral-a magnificent specimen indeed! Thank you all...slainte!