Hogwarts Houses: Go Go, Gryffindor!

For those of you who don't know, July 31st is the birthday of J.K. Rowling, the woman behind the phenomenon that is Harry Potter. Not only that, but it's the birthday of Harry Potter himself, as well as the actor that plays Uncle Vernon, Richard Griffiths. I thought, in honor of all of their birthdays, I'd have a post themed around the houses of Hogwarts. I was originally going to feature all of the houses in one post, but I've decided to split it up, starting with Harry Potter's house.

First, a little background, for those who don't know much about Harry Potter. Gryffindor is the house that's known for bravery, chivalry, and "a certain disregard for the rules." Most of the more well-known characters were in Gryffindor, like Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Dumbledore. Their colors are red and gold.



Shirt. Bermudas. Sandals.

For this look, I just wanted something that was really laid back and comfortable. Also, I don't want to ruin it for those who haven't read the books, since the seventh movie hasn't been released yet, but wouldn't this be perfect for Hermione in Deathly Hallows?



Sweater. Jeans. Sandals. Bags. Watch.

I know school hasn't started back up again, but it's never too soon to start thinking about what you're going to wear. I thought this outfit looked perfect for heading to class or studying in, once September rolls around. Also, I chose to use a white watch, rather than a gold, since most Gryffindors are on the "good" side, and I chose white to represent that.



Tank Top. Skirt. Sandals. Ring. Bracelet.

This is a good look for a date, or any other time when you want to look extra cute. I thought the heart ring was a nice touch, since most Gryffindors have hearts of gold (granted, the ring isn't gold, but you get the idea :P ). Just tuck the shirt in, and you're good to go!



Cardigan. Cami. Skirt. Necklace. Flats.

I admit, I don't have a specific reason for adding this look, but I adored the shoes, so I wanted to feature them. But really, this is the kind of outfit that could be worn almost anywhere, from hanging out at home, hitting the mall, or going to a family event. I really liked the owl necklace, since Harry is very fond of his owl Hedwig, and in general, they're quite common in the series.


American Eagle: Dress, Sweater, Skirt, Bracelet
Wet Seal: Top
Forever 21: Sandals

I wasn't originally going to add this one, but I've decided since I was planning on making five sets for Slytherin (my favorite), I would include five for all of the houses. This isn't meant to be one outfit, it's just a collection of the items that didn't end up fitting into a previous outfit that I didn't want to part with. Also, sorry the way I credited it is different, but I would go insane otherwise. Let me know if you want the links!

Well, that's it for my first real post. I hope you enjoyed it, and feel free to leave comments!

High Hopes

So, I've been thinking a lot over the past few days, trying to figure out exactly what I want to get out of this blog. I've learned from past endeavors that if I don't have an idea of what I want to accomplish from the start, then it's not going to go anywhere. That being said, I've come up with the five main things I hope to accomplish through Bows and Brunettes.

1. Find my personal style. I know what I like, and what I don't, but that doesn't always translate through to my clothes. I hope through having this blog, I learn to focus on only wearing things that I love and that flatter my body. Basically, I want to learn to put more thought into my outfits everyday.

2. Improve my writing. I like to write, but I know I've definitely got room for improvement. Since having a blog means that I'm going to have to write several times a week in order to update it, it will give me practice and my skills should improve.

3. Gain more confidence. Confidence isn't my strong suit. I hope that by writing a blog, I learn to believe in myself more, which should help me out in other aspects of my life as well.

4. Learn to appreciate the little things. I feel like I probably take too many things for granted, and reading blogs has helped me to appreciate them more. Hopefully, by having my own blog, I can continue to learn how to appreciate the small things.

5. Meet people. The blogging community has always interested me. There are so many great people, and they all are so supportive of one another, and I'd like to be a part of that.

Now that I've figured out what exactly I want to do, I'm ready to start writing posts. I have a lot of ideas, and I can't wait to get started!

I Am Who I Am

I’m not your average girl. I can’t walk in heels, though I can certainly appreciate their beauty . The last time I wore makeup was over a year ago (my friend was having fun), and before that, I can’t even remember. I’m completely broke, but that doesn’t stop me from perusing websites and drooling over clothes. I use smileys way too much, and hate abbreviating things when I text. I’m a hopeless romantic. I can be very random, and I talk way more than I should. I have way too many obsessions to count. I'm not the kind of person who is effortlessly cool. I don't listen to music no one has heard of, nor do I manage to find fabulous clothes in thrift stores.

I've tried the "blog" thing before, and it didn't work, but I'd like to try again, so here goes!