If you've been a longtime Alexa Chung fan, you may remember a pair of shoes she wore constantly during what some refer to as the “indie-twee era”: Carel’s Kina. All these years later, Olivia Rodrigo was recently been seen wearing a pair too.
Interested in learning more about the brand’s history, I started reading up on it. Carel began in 1947, when Georges and Rosa Carel opened their first women’s shoe boutique in Paris. Their goal was to create shoes that were both comfortable and elegant, favoring an under-two-inch “trotter” heel, which feels incredibly me.
In 1974, the Marquis was released—a flat-heeled ballerina shoe decorated with a bow, reminiscent of an opera slipper. As the line continued to grow, it began gaining 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 ended up trying the Carlotta, and 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 truly feel like the ideal shoe. I was genuinely surprised by how impeccably soft and comfortable the leather was, which the label describes as feeling like “a second skin.” And the shape feels especially feminine and chic.
Other pairs that caught my attention include two especially showstopping, vacation-y new arrivals: the Acai heels and Piscine sandals, both adorned with tropical flower appliqués—a popular trend for spring/summer 2026. More in line with my personal style are the Emilie and Princesse, along with my absolute dream fall boot, the Starter boots.
Below, shop the cult-favorite French shoes directly on its website as well as retailers Farfetch and Bergdorf Goodman.
Shop on Carel
Shop on Farfetch
Shop on Bergdorf Goodman
