While this may seem like an odd book review to find on a women’s style blog, at the book’s core is information that helps anyone, regardless of their profession, level of creativity or interest in history, to think.  And I mean truly think, which  means challenging old ideas, and working through new ones.  A better understanding of creative thinking can do everything from polish your personal style to inspire you to invent something useful that will help others.

Here are just a few snippets from The Myths of Innovation that I especially liked:

• “The tightrope between being strange and being creative is too narrow to walk without occasionally landing on either side, explaining why so many great minds are lampooned as eccentrics.” – pg. 12-13
• “The most useful way to think of epiphany is an occasional bonus of working on tough problems.” – pg. 13
• “Fashion is a good metaphor for the problem of simultaneous inventorship:  the situation when two or more people claim to have invented something.” – pg. 74
• “Discovery is messy; exploration is dangerous.  No one knows what she’s going to get when she’s being creative.” – pg. 88
• “It’s not news that innovators are often idealists, but the myth that the best ideas win should not be underestimated.” pg. 112
• “This is an essential paradox of innovation:  no one knows, not even the inventors, how their creations will impact the world until they are used.” – pg. 148
• “Creativity is personal.  No book or expert can dictate how you can be more creative.” – pg. 171
• “Deliberately put yourself in situations where you have no way out but through.” – pg. 189

This thought provoking book is one that will have you highlighting and making notes.  If you’re looking for some motivation to finish a project or the courage to start one, this is a great book to read.  Buy The Myths of Innovation in print for $17.99 or in eBook form for $14.99.

Follow my blog with bloglovin.

I recently discovered this stylish blog directory, which covers everything from fashion to food. It helps keep all of your favorite blogs in one place, which makes things much easier.  The at-a-glance view you see on bloglovin is similar to a Twitter or Facebook stream, but is a lot more stylish.

bloglovin is customizable, which means you can subscribe to the feeds you like.  When you see a link like the one above or below, you can click on it to add that blog’s feed to your bloglovin stream.  Then, each time you visit the bloglovin website, you can browse through the latest entries from your favorite blogs.

Make your chunky knits work for you by balancing them out with skinnier pieces like leggings or a long clutch handbag. Don’t be afraid to experiment with belts and other accessories. Booties, over the knee boots and clogs are the perfect match for this season’s sweaters.

Fab Chunky Knit Sweater Finds:

• Halston Heritage Silk-Cashmere Hooded Sweater Cape $525.00
• Vivienne Westwood Red Label Wool Neck-tie Sweater $192.50
• Free People Cozy Admirals Sweater $148.00
• Banana Republic  Short-Sleeve Cozy Cable Cardigan $98.00
• Textile Elizabeth and James “Kennedy” Pull-Over Sweater $225.00

Have you ever asked someone if your handbag makes your butt look fat?  All joking aside, the size and shape of your handbag affects your silhouette.  Selecting the best handbag for your body type can truly improve your overall look and boost your confidence.

Here are a few important guidelines to consider when selecting the right handbag for your body:

• Women with broad shoulders or large busts should avoid handbags with short handles that leave the handbags falling at the bust region.  Instead, opt for handbags with long handles, or carry a clutch.
• Women with wide hips, thick waists or large stomachs should avoid handbags that fall at the midsection.  Instead, choose handbags with shorter handles, which fall under the arm or well above the waist area.
• Women with large frames should avoid small handbags.  Petite handbags only make tall and plus size women appear larger.  Instead, opt for medium or large size handbags to keep everything in proportion.
• Thin or tall women should avoid skinny style handbags.  Instead, strike the perfect balance with a bulky or slouchy design.
• Short women should avoid wide or oversized handbags.  Instead, elongate your appearance by choosing small to medium size handbags.
• In general, women of all sizes should aim for choosing handbag shapes that are the opposite of their body types.  So, if you are tall and thin, opt for something round and slouchy.  If you are short and round, pick a long, sleek style.

Selecting the perfect handbag for your body type will leave you looking beautiful and pulled together.  No matter what you pay for a handbag or where you carry it, it will always complement your ensemble if it strikes the right balance for you.

The deep brown and vibrant red make me think of a cherry chocolate truffle (though sweets are never too far from my mind). Soon, I will be yearning for spring and something cotton candy-ish.  But for now, I’ll enjoy my rich autumn colors.

Cherry Chocolate Truffle Look:

• Sterling Silver Earrings
• Sheer Floral Tunic And Tank From s. Oliver
• Straight Leg Jeans From Banana Republic
• Watch By Coach
• Tiger’s Eye Bracelets
• Signature Mini Tags Necklace By Isabelle Grace Jewelry
• Red Hobo Handbag By Ellington Handbags
• Silver Ballet Flats From Gap

I received a Signature Mini Tags Necklace from Isabelle Grace Jewelry to review. It is amazingly beautiful and special.  Like the one pictured above, my sterling silver necklace features four different handmade charms.  I have one sterling silver initial tag for each of my children.  Each tag is stamped masterfully with a bold letter and embellished with a clear cz, which adds a touch of elegance.  My necklace also features a beautiful smoky gem charm and a smaller tag with a delicate gold heart.  The way the charms stand out against the oxidized sterling silver chain is stunning.  I’ve barely taken this necklace off since it came, and I know it will be treasured for many years to come.

Isabelle Grace Jewelry is the perfect gift for a special occasion…or no occasion at all.  Celebrity fans include Tori Spelling, Katherine Heigl and Christina Milian.  Shop the Isabelle Grace Jewelry website to pick up a little something fabulous for yourself or someone special.

The Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 ad campaign gave us our first look at the retro-inspired glamour that calls for longer skirts and dresses.  With minimalism and ladylike handbags in vogue, it seems perfectly logical to have longer, fuller skirts to complement our back to the basics style.

Hemlines that fall at or below the knee can provide ladylike structure or an easygoing attitude, depending on the style.  For a sophisticated look, opt for slim fitting pencil skirts and full satin skirts.  For a more casual look, opt for a jersey wrap dress or maxi.

Fab Longer Length Finds:

• Tucker Cross Front Flowy Dress $425.00
• McQ ¾ Length Skirt $435.00
• Free People All Day Long Tee $88.00
• Reiss Angelique High Waisted Skirt $89.31
• Banana Republic ¾-Sleeve Faux-Wrap Dress $98.00
• AK Anne Klein Cap Sleeve Watercolor Floral Knit Dress $59.99

This feature contains some affiliate links. Read the disclosures for more information.

September is here and we are only weeks away from a fresh new color palette (if you can wait that long).  The Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2010 has me even more excited for the upcoming season.  With so many great trends, from minimalism to faux fur, it’s easy to imagine these colors enhancing the clothing and accessories we can barely wait to slip into.

Here is the palette that the color experts at Pantone came up with for fall 2010:

• Endive (fresh yellow-green)
• Golden Glow (warm and bold golden yellow)
• Living Coral (bright pink-orange blend)
• Lipstick Red (deep red)
• Purple Orchid (bright purple)
• Chocolate Truffle (deep brown with plum undertone)
• Lagoon (tropical bluish-green)
• Woodbine (earthy olive green)
• Oyster Gray (soft gray neutral)
• Rose Dust (pinkish-beige neutral)

The palette takes us on a journey from the beach to the woods, which will keep our ensembles looking season appropriate without being dull.  Imagine combinations like Oyster Gray and Purple Orchid or Endive and Lipstick Red.  We could spend days mixing and matching these beautiful colors.

I received a Shoe Angels Introductory Package, $19.95, to review.  The business card type case is chic and convenient.  It holds up to 14 cards containing Shoe Angels adhesives.  There is a place on the inside of the case to stick the Shoe Angels that are still sticky enough to reuse.  Peeled and applied carefully, you should be able to use each set of Shoe Angels for a few weeks.  The transparent adhesives themselves are smartly designed to fit any style of shoe.  They provide a clear, thin barrier between the back of your shoe and the floor mat.  It’s amazing that something so simple can make such a difference.

Protecting everything from your frequently worn ballet flats to your special occasion stilettos is easy thanks to Shoe Angels.  Pick up your pack on the Shoe Angels website.

Based in Los Angeles, this amazing website offers women’s designer labels at 70% off.  365 Hangers uses models of different body types so you can get a more realistic look at each item before you purchase it.

How to Enter:

• Visit the 365 Hangers website, then reply to this post with a comment listing 3 of your favorite items from the 365 Hangers website.
• Follow all of the Contest Rules to be eligible. On September 16, 2010, two winners will be drawn at random by Style Epiphany and announced in this post. The winner will also be notified by Style Epiphany via email.

Rules:

• You must be at least 18 years of age to play.
• Open to US residents only.
• One entry per person.
• Include your name and email address in your comment entry so we can contact you if you win.
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 15, 2010.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Style Epiphany is committed to your privacy. Read the privacy policy and terms of use.

Want to be the first to know about exclusive giveaways and other Style Epiphany news? Subscribe to the weekly Style Epiphany newsletter, like Style Epiphany on Facebook and follow Style Epiphany on Twitter!