Lucie Loves... Fashion // Shopping for my summer wardrobe and finding the best shoes ever at Cara, Richmond [press invite – gifted items]
When it comes to shopping for clothes these days, where do you buy from most regularly? Online or IRL? How do you find out about new brands? Via friends or Influencers on Instagram? Pinterest street style inspiration? Love Island? Seeing it on your mate? Do you find yourself going to the same old, same old stores?
I would say that, over the last couple of years, my shopping habits have definitely changed. I’ve traded up what used to be regular Topshop sprees for fewer (slightly pricier) but more discerning & Other Stories pieces, and broken up my sporadic pay day ASOS hauls and Zara in-store on-trend finds with an assortment of more longer-lasting yet eclectic Anthropologie treasures.
It was love at first sight when I spotted these red suede Cobra Ros sandals in CARA Richmond. They were £110 - but are now on sale for £55, whilst stocks last!
I guess fashion is a bit like wine… it’s easy to only shop what you know about…. On that note! Let me introduce you to CARA…
About a year ago, when I was still living in leafy Richmond, Surrey – with neither a full-time job or thoughts of living in SE5 not yet even a glint in my eye – I had gotten into the habit of not actually shopping so much. That’s one of the things you realise about freelancing – you can’t afford to be so frivolous with your spending! The reason? I genuinely couldn’t afford it.
It was during this period, when I’d walked past the CARA store in Richmond a handful of times, that one day, on my way back from the gym, I decided to go in and have a mooch.
CARA is, just a short stroll from Richmond train station
I spied the loveliest pair of red suede low-heeled summer sandals for £110 and fell in love. But I couldn’t justify splashing the cash then and there — not when my Richmond room rent was £1,200 a month! EEK!
So, I kept walking past the store, until one day, I was invited to travel to Belfast for work. This was the perfect excuse to buy a new outfit! I was to be interviewed on Celebs In Solitary: Meltdown, about my own experience spending 5-days and 5-nights In Solitary confinement for a Channel 5 TV show – watch it on My5 Catchup and read what I thought about it here.
After FINALLY treating myself to the Cobra Ros red sandals (I naughtily put them on my credit card…) I proceeded to pap the life out of them, which got the attention of the CARA Instagram team. Sorry for the shoe spam, guys! They’re just such a lovely colour and incredibly comfortable to wear!
The CARA team reached out a couple of months ago, and invited me to come and re-visit the Richmond store, to take a look at some of their new gems. What I hadn’t realised was that their gorgeous clothing collection has now doubled in size!
They offer a wide-range of pieces, ££ - £££, from high street names to high-end designers, even some you may never have heard of before.
So let’s just say… I went in to try on a gazillion pairs of shoes… and ended up buying a whole summer wardrobe too! Which was pretty handy actually, as I’d done an ASOS spree, and when it came, I tried it all on… and nothing fit. GRRR! Classic online shopping experience, eh?
Here’s a few of the shoes, boots and sandals from the CARA footwear collection that caught my eye.
Cola high wedge sandals - was £95, now £47.50, whilst stocks last
Brown suede Lace Up heeled sandals, was £90 - now £45, whilst stocks last!
ALOHA coloured raffia buckle up block sandal, £120 (these were the pair that made me swoon! The team kindly gifted me a pair to take home with me, and the shoe comments have not stopped rolling in since. Yee haw!)
LOVE LOVE LOVE! ALOHA! They also come in a blue multi-colour style too…
Quite possibly the funnest and most-colourful pair of Italian heels I’ve ever owned!
These APPLE raffia slide slip on sandals also come in black, and would be a great holiday evening shoe!
How cute are these AERIAL tassled flat slip on summer sandals?! They were £105, now £40 - whilst stocks last! They also come in a ALMOND blue/pink version too.
Here’s a few of the pieces of clothing that I bought too!
If you’re heading to Richmond this weekend, and looking to do a bit of shopping for clothes or shoes, I implore you to give the ladies at CARA a visit. If you’re lucky, their summer sale might still be on! They made my afternoon! Such a friendly team, great conversation and a plethora of stunning product! Plus, a trip to Richmond is always a good idea!
Photography © Lucie Kerley
ABOUT CARA SHOES
Cara first opened its doors in Cheltenham and Bristol in 1986 after trading under Midas Shoes and the Turner Brothers name since the late 1800’s. It has since grown into innovative ladies footwear brand with an online shop and eight stores in the South of England. Cara also supplies to over 200 independent retailers and boutiques over the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Our skill and experience in creating women’s shoes over the years has lead us to produce the highest quality collections which are ever evolving with new designs, shapes and finishes. We have a strong relationship with our manufacturers in Italy and across Europe who supply with the finest leather, suede and textile product you will find on the high street – this allows us to offer your customers a versatile and wearable product which will update their wardrobe and transform their outfit, what ever their age or style.