The Comeback of the Jelly Sandal.

Jen Shoop

45 minutes ago

I didn’t expect to fall in love with jellies again, but here we are. I ordered a few styles last summer, fully expecting them to be a flash in the pan summer 2024 pool shoe (I picked up these and these) — and now here I am, a year later, building outfits around them that will never see a drop of chlorine.

I am finding a lot of the styles I’ve tested a) more comfortable than expected (soft, pliable plastic, and lots of room to breathe), and b) wildly practical — water-resistant, wipeable, and basically weightless in a weekender bag. I think part of their charm is that they fit “the wrong shoe” theory. (Have you heard about this?) The basic premise is that a lot of very chic people believe you should take the shoe that “goes” with the look and swap for something unexpected for a surprisingly chic look with a serious point of view. For example: loafer instead of sandal; sneaker instead of heel. A jellie always feels a little kitsch, a little off, a little “did you forget your shoes at the pool?”

Anyway, if you’ve been on the fence, consider this your sign — spring is the perfect time to bring back the jellies.

Jellie Street Style Mood Board.

Most of the looks below are featuring The Row’s sold-out-everywhere Mara flat from last summer. Luckily for us, lookalikes abound: I picked up these Anthropologies earlier this year (run a bit big, fyi) and I think this $99 pair gives the real deal a run for their money.