In San Diego, it’s rare that the weather ever drops below 70. So when the air gets a tad chillier, I actually get a tinge of excitement because I get to bust out what I’d like to call my ‘winter clothes’ … I know, I’m a joke.

One of my favorite restaurants in my hometown is Café Topés. It’s such a special place… they have a charming, rustic feel (check out that awesome living wall!), full of washed woods, succulent centerpieces, and the BEST coffees and loose leaf teas … not to mention a solid breakfast menu. There’s really no shortage of great food and great coffee in Carlsbad, to be honest. But for me, this place takes the cake – they have an almond milk horchata chai, which is absolutely to DIE for, an amazing vanilla peach tea latte, and Stumptown cold brew coffee.

This morning Dave and I went for a little coffee and an enormous cinnamon roll. I’m not a morning person, but I’m so enchanted by the way the world looks in the morning. The cafe was quiet; it was just us and another couple in there, super early AM, the light was streaming in as the sun was coming up, and then our song came on the cafe’s playlist (I totally felt like a fourteen-year-old typing that out and am a little embarrassed but whatever). It was just a perfect morning. I adore this place.

Sweater: Vince (similar here)
Jeans: Madewell
Boots: Steve Madden
Watch: Nixon

A little about the clothes… The sweater was definitely a Christmas present (thanks, Dave!), and I got the jeans at Madewell after trading in an old pair of jeans from another brand. They gave me $20 off and used my old jeans to make house insulation for low-income families (so rad).

As for the boots… I’ve been dying over Stuart Weitzman 5050s after seeing them on literally every single style blog in the universe, but unfortunately I can’t afford $700 boots… not by any stretch of the imagination. These ones from Steve Madden were insanely close to the 5050 style and a fraction of the cost. They’re on sale now! Go to them.

I kept makeup and hair super simple and casual to fit my very relaxed mood. My go-to mascara combo is from Chanel (base and top), and the light pink lipstick is from MAC.

Wishing you a cozy, comfy Tuesday.
xx,
Dominique