despite the fact that madewell’s fall collection arrived in stores on july 28th, i hadn’t been able to make it to the store for a little styling appointment with lauren (the resident stylist for the carlsbad store and my newest bff) until this weekend. so armed with my second opinion (S, you are the best), i met her on saturday morning for the best kind of play date -one that involves trying on beautiful clothes, shoes, and accessories.

i arrived to find the largest dressing room stall transformed into my own personal mini store -where everything is perfectly catered to your personal styling taste and in your size. so basically my dream. overwhelmed by the cornucopia of options, i grabbed for the first outfit i saw and tempted fate. turns out moto-style leather pants are not kind to anyone with any sort of calf muscles. i laughed it off as i couldn’t even shimmy them up past my knees and moved on to my next ensemble (but not before making a ross-from-friends-in-leather-pants-reference because, natch).

i repeated the process a half-dozen more times, unfortunately logging more “misses” than “hits” in the proverbial record book. or fortunately, if we’re consulting my bank account. but when all was said and done, i emerged with my absolute favorites from the bunch. four items that will serve me now and later. just like the candy.

here are the gems that found their way home with me last weekend:

one || rowhouse sweater in true black. i have been on the lookout for a classic black sweater for ages. something timeless that could be dressed up or down depending on the mood and/or occasion. i tried on this round neck version when i was in san francisco and immediately fell in love. it’s just the right kind of drapey (oversized yet still flattering) and the merino wool not only makes it crazy soft, but also perfect for keeping warm on a crisp fall day.

image via madewell

two || summerhouse dress. what’s summer without a LWD? i like this one particularly for its girly details, its cotton fabric, and of course, its pockets. i was looking for the perfect dress to bring with me to austin this weekend and this one definitely fit the bill. i threw on a denim vest and my cowboy boots when i got home and almost wept tears of joy. is it weird to get that emotional about an outfit? actually, don’t answer that.

image via madewell

three || wavelength skirt in lipstick red. i declared my affections for this little number in last friday’s “it’s friday, i’m in love post.” and as promised, i made it mine. i can’t wait to pair it with plaid, and gingham, and chambray, oh my!

image via madewell

and last, but certainly not least,

four || the maude flat in pale fig. i have a hard time with shoes in general. most of the time my foot is too wide to squeeze into the likes of a pointy-toe pump or flat. but there’s something about how madewell crafts their kicks that makes them a perfect match for my feet. these gorgeous suede beauties are no different. i’m kind of obsessed with the pale lavender hue and how perfectly they’ll be paired with my new(ish) hunter green skinnies. and basically most everything else in my fall wardrobe.

image via who what wear

and there you have it, the four newest additions to my summer-t0-fall wardrobe. expect to see a photo or twelve of them gracing your instagram and/or rss feed soon. you’re welcome in advance.

image via madewell