Carel Woman

Few fashion houses can boast of having a name as iconic as that of Carel . The shoe brand for Parisian women par excellence in the 1960s, the brand experienced a slight slump in the mid-1990s. Having been brought up to date for several seasons already, elle is once again one of the brands that count.
Founded in 1952 by Georges Carel , the shoe brand quickly established itself in the segment of gant and chic shoes, made using ancestral techniques and with a timeless look. Located a stone's throw from the Sorbonne (Paris), the first boutique attracts young flower girls eager to treat themselves to a pair of original shoes. The label's first success was Marquis, round toe ballerina, decorated with a grosgrain bow on the top. A reference that still sells extremely well today.
Renowned among fashion designers, Carel also quickly established itself among ready-to- porter designers who called on elle to provide shoes for the models for their fashion shows. From Jean Paul Gaultier to Issy Miyake via Thierry Mugler and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Carel shoes have graced the biggest podiums.
But the real strength of the label lies in its ability, from the very beginning, to imagine colorful models tinged with humor. The most telling example? Topo ballerinas, whose line enhanced with small ears and a mouse snout are enough to make anyone who wears them smile. Glittery ankle boots Estimated, favorites of singer Christine and the Queens are also a customer favorite, as is the three-strap babie called Kina. Supported by the photographs of Jeanloup Sieff in the 1970s and 1980s, the brand, which produces 80% of its stocks in Italy, was bought by Frédérique Picard in 2010. Under her leadership, elle made a comeback, multiplying the collaborations and chic and shocking new products, perfect for seducing a whole new generation while satisfying longtime fans.