Jelly Shoes Are Making a Nostalgic Comeback This 2025

Jelly shoes are named after their squishy texture, reminiscent of gelatin desserts. They first entered sartorial consciousness in the early 1980s, where the term "Jelly Shoes" actually referred to the French brand that launched them. At the time, shoemakers were experimenting with PVC material to create pieces that could be worn in tepid environments such as beaches. The flexible, transparent material allowed designers to play with color choices and silhouettes.

Jellies were prominent in the 1990s until the 2000s, when they were liberally worn by Kirsten Dunst and Paris Hilton to casual functions. Only two decades later did they make a grand return, mainly thanks to The Row's Spring/Summer 2024 collection. Touted as a titan of quiet luxury, the brand breathes new life into jelly shoes with a netted silhouette rendered in a variety of eye-grabbing shades. Soon after, houses like Chloe, Gucci, and Tory Burch decided to also put their stamp on the nostalgic sandals.

As compared to their salad days in the 2000s, jelly shoes are now worn in more pared-down fashions. Often, they're enlisted as an fuss-free slip-on for errands 'fits or a reliable companion for sandy landscapes. After all, the main draw of the shoe remains to be its elastic material which allows for easy wear and comfortability. Some zanier designs turn them into statement pieces that can define an entire look.

Ushering in the renaissance of the jelly shoe, The Row's Mara flat offers a more contemporary take on the compressible design. Netted PVC wraps one foot, while a cork insole ensures maximum comfort when slipped on.

A purveyor of jellies since their inception, Melissa offers a variety of shoe styles made out of the squishy textile. The ID Heel, which sprinkles some sass to the fisherman sandal, remains to be one of their most recognizable models.

Made in Morocco out of a blend of PVC and repurposed hemp fibers, each Plasticana pair is a one-of-one given the unique discoloration patterns that arise from their manufacturing.

The Homeria sandals from Ancient Greek are a straightforward sandal carefully made by hand in Greece. The pair has some slight elevation to it with the inch-tall platform.

Tory Burch combines the jelly sandal with the good o'le Mary Jane to create a pair that serves on both style and practicality fronts. One can easily run out of the door in these given the absence of an ankle strap.

True to their less is more philosophy, shapewear brand Skims minimizes their approach to the jelly shoe. Quite simply a flat made out of translucent clay-hued PVC, these make for the ideal pool day footwear.

Remember those plastic shoes you'd slip on to the feet of your Barbie dolls? Well, you can rock them now, too. Steve Madden's pink-tastic thong sandals are more than a costume piece given their durable and versatile design.

If you didn't think jellies could be glammed up, think again. Chloe reimagines the shoe as an ankle-strapped kitten heel that still feels like a flip-flop when worn. It's a pair that rivals Cinderalla's glass slippers, we dare say.