If you’ve been a longtime fan of Alexa Chung, you’ll remember a pair of shoes from what some referred to as her “indie-twee era”: the Karel Keena. After all these years, Olivia Rodrigo was recently spotted wearing a pair as well.
Interested in learning more about the history of the brand, I started reading up on it. Carrel’s origins date back to 1947, when Georges and Rosa Carrel opened their first women’s shoe boutique in Paris. Their goal was to create shoes that were both comfortable and elegant, suited to a less than two-inch “trotter” heel, which I find feels incredible.
In 1974, Marquis was released – a flat-heeled ballerina shoe, decorated with a bow, reminiscent of a Opera shoe. As the series grew, it began to gain celebrity fans, including actress Isabelle Huppert. Then, in 2010, the iconic triple-strap, 1.6-inch-heel Kina finally came into play. Today, the enduring silhouette is still a best-seller and has continued to diversify its designs.
i finished trying CarlottaAnd as soon as I put them on, I literally said these exact words out loud to my partner: “These are beautiful, gorgeous, and perfect.” They really do feel like the ideal shoe. I was really surprised by how soft and comfortable the leather was, which the label describes as feeling like a “second skin.” And the shape looks particularly feminine and attractive.
Other pairs that caught my attention include two particularly showstopping, vacation-y new arrivals: the Acai high heels and of fish Sandals, both adorned with tropical floral decorations – a popular trend for spring/summer 2026. are more in line with my personal style Emily And princessWith my perfect dream fall boots, starter boots.
Below, shop the cult-favorite French shoes directly from its website as well as retailers Farfetch and Bergdorf Goodman.
shop at carrel
shop at farfetch
carel paris
Buckled Patent Leather Pumps
carel paris
Sculpted-Heel Cross-Strap Sandals
carel paris
Bow-Detail Slingback Pump
