Whatever your first brush with jelly sandals was, it’s probably tinged with nostalgia. Maybe it was asking your parents for a pair after seeing them in the Delia’s catalog; maybe it was seeing them on the Dude in The Big Lebowski; perhaps it was discovering that all Melissa shoes smell like bubblegum. Fashion’s in a wistful mood right now—see: capri pants, the boho revival, and 2010s style in general—so of course it was only a matter of time until jelly shoes got the same treatment.
This time around, it all started (as many things do these days) with The Row. At the label’s pre-fall 2024 runway show, models walked the runway in fishnet jelly sandals, evoking the ease of wandering around a vacation town. While the brand’s Mara flats (MSRP: $890) sold out nearly the minute they hit stores, the damage was done: Jellies are all we want to wear this summer 2024, even if we’re only OOO mentally.
Are jelly sandals comfortable to wear?
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Like mesh ballet flats, another warm-weather shoe trend that plays with sheer materials, jelly sandals offer all-important airflow and comfort. We like that the PVC footwear is slightly more practical for everyday wear, given that the majority of pairs are waterproof, flexible, and (mostly) built to last. See? Practical footwear can also be fun.
Glamour’s staff is also very much leaning into the sandal trend. Glamour commerce producer Leilani McQuay is pining after Jeffrey Campbell’s clear ballet flats; Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz owns and loves Melissa’s iconic glitter Possession sandals. In fact, she swear they’re the most comfortable summer shoe. “I’ve worn them for hours with nary a blister,” she says. This author almost exclusively wears French brand Plasticana’s biodegradable Gardana clogs. They’re the most stylish and durable jelly shoes I’ve ever worn. Seriously, I get stopped on the street when I wear them. (They also come as fisherman sandals.) Speaking of, fisherman shoes are another popular summer trend our style editors are eyeing.
How to style jelly sandals
Styling jellies is a breeze. Lean into the seaside vibes with a breezy button-down layered over a tank top; finish the look with a crochet skirt, linen pants, or boxer shorts. To channel the relaxed elegance of The Row’s runway, try wearing the shoes with trench coats, loose white T-shirts, and cropped wide-leg pants. They make great officewear, too; try them with a blazer, sculptural earrings, and a midi skirt. To elevate your day-off wardrobe, try pairing them with crew socks, a loose hoodie, and casual shorts. (We promise you’ll be the coolest person in the grocery store.)
While we wait for a restock of The Row’s shoes—and perhaps a sugar daddy to foot the bill—there are so many more pairs of cute, comfortable sandals to discover that’ll scratch that same itch. The obvious place to start is with a lookalike, and Ancient Greek Sandals provides the netted vibe with its Iro sandals. You can also never go wrong with fisherman sandals from Melissa, the brand that invented the jelly shoe back in 1979. And if the real appeal is a designer logo, you’re still in luck: Tory Burch, Gucci, and Valentino are all in on the trend. Find these pairs (plus plenty more editor-approved favorites) in our edit below.
The best jelly sandals for summer 2024
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