The Ultimate Millennial Throwback Shoe Is Back in Style…and I Can Already Feel Blisters Forming

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There are few items of clothing from my childhood that stand out more in my memory than jelly sandals. The flexible, plastic shoes had a cross-hatch design reminiscent of mini fisherman sandals and were practically required to contain glitter. My sisters and I (and essentially every other little girl I knew) wore them day in and day out, all summer long from the ages of 3 to 10. So imagine my surprise on a recent Instagram scroll when I spotted a pair of old-school jelly shoes on the feet of a favorite fashion influencer …then again being previewed as an upcoming style from the brand Loeffler Randall …and yet again on the page of a fellow millennial fashion editor. Yes, I am here to report that jelly sandals for women are officially trending, whether your feet are ready for them or not.

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Abby Hepworth for PureWow

Old Navy and ASOS both currently carry retro-looking, glittery fisherman jellies to tap directly into those nostalgic vibes. And Jeffrey Campbell and Ancient Greek Sandals offer flats that combine jelly materials with another unexpected summer shoe trend, mesh ballet flats , for a kooky fishnet-looking sandal. Even The Row , the ultra-luxe brand from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen , has a number of jelly sandals in its summer collection.

If you, like me, can practically feel blisters forming at the mere thought of wearing jelly sandals as an adult, you are not alone. But according to friends and other PureWow editors, the 2024 versions may not be nearly as abrasive as the OG sandals of the ‘80s and ‘90s. “I loved them as a kid, but I also remember my feet slipping around in them and getting plenty of blisters,” admits VP of Editorial Candace Davison . “And getting pebbles caught in the bottom of the soles, too. However, I recently asked about this [trend] on Instagram Stories, and I never got so many responses! Multiple adults swore that the Melissa jellies have smoother edges and are comfier for all-day wear.”

Abby Hepworth for PureWow

Indeed, Melissa has been making jelly-inspired shoes for decades, in a wide range of silhouettes. Assistant Editor Delia Curtis got a pair of Melissa jelly loafers for their birthday last year (always ahead of the curve) and has been raking in the compliments ever since. “They are fun, funky and truly fabulous. I get so many compliments on them and they make me feel like a kid. I love them so much!” However, Curtis does concede that even if blisters aren’t as prevalent a problem, sweat still is. “I will say, I do need socks with them because my feet get overheated and start slipping around from sweat.” This feels somewhat inevitable—plastic shoes will never be all that breathable and can’t absorb or wick away moisture like leather or other synthetics. And the obvious solution, socks, opens up a whole other can of worms for millennials looking to embrace the nostalgic trend.

At the end of the day, I have to admit my curiosity about the trend and predilection for all things ‘90s is currently winning out over my deeply entrenched millennial urge to never wear visible socks in public. After all, a glittery pink plastic fisherman sandal is already pretty bold—is throwing a pair of crew socks into the mix really adding all that much risk of looking like a fashion don’t? Jelly shoes are meant to be fun and to tap into the feelings of childhood freedom, before we all started to feel self-conscious about our clothing or our bodies. If that means wearing socks with sandals, well then I guess it’s time to embrace the shoobie life and make 7-year-old Abby proud.

Shop My Favorite Jelly Shoes

1. Melissa Possession Sandals

Melissa

2. Ancient Greek Sandals Homeria Jelly Shoes

Ancient Greek Sandals

3. Jeffrey Campbell Jellz Caged Shoes

Bloomingdale’s

4. Old Navy Jelly Fisherman Sandals

Old Navy

5. Sun Jellies Jelly Shoes

Sun Jellies

6. London Rebel Flat Jelly Shoes

ASOS

7. Melissa Possession Plato Platform Jelly Sandals

Nordstrom

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