Jelly shoes are back, and this time, they’re bringing nostalgia, variety and playful style with them

Nostalgia has once again worked its magic on another fashion staple. Jelly shoes are seeing a resurgence among Gen Z and millennials, thanks to their once-niche (but not so much) fun and quirky appeal. What was once a childhood staple has found its way back into fashion, and it is becoming increasingly sought after for its practicality, versatility, and everyday functionality.

I’d never been a fan of jelly shoes. Call it a childish refusal to see the vision, but they just weren’t for me. Looking back, it was more about me not thinking they were aesthetic enough, although I’ve definitely come to eat my words.

What I’d have to be forced to wear has now become one of the most fun, colourful and adaptable shoes around today. And clearly, I’m not the only one who has had a change of heart.

The high-fashion girlies, from the Olsen twins of “The Row” (who played a heavy part in the resurgence) to Jennifer Lawrence, Kylie Jenner and Barbara Palvin, have all been spotted wearing the shoes. However, putting high fashion aside, these were shoes we could easily find by walking straight into a market for as little as ₦500 back then. Now, they’ve evolved from an inexpensive childhood staple into a fashion-forward shoe, found everywhere from local markets to luxury wardrobes. 

Visually, jelly shoes are glossy, translucent and slightly plastic-looking, often with a soft, rounded shape. They’re typically made from lightweight, flexible PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and come in a range of playful colours and silhouettes. Their waterproof design also makes them especially practical for rainy days and summer wear.

In the Northern Hemisphere countries where it’s currently summer, the jelly shoe resurgence is already in full swing. And with the rains easing up a bit here in Nigeria, these shoes have begun to pop up on the feet of many. 

Read also: These Nigerian footwear brands make shoes that look straight out of a moodboard

 

Types of jelly shoes

The fun thing about jelly shoes is that you can find them in the silhouettes of your regular shoe designs. There might not be a jelly replica for every shoe out there, but the most popular silhouettes definitely have a jelly alternative. Additionally, it doesn’t stop at replicas; there are plenty of innovative and completely new designs too. Here are a few you definitely need to know. 

Fisherman jelly shoes

Fisherman sandals, dad sandals, ancient sandals- whatever you know them as  — these sandals also have a jelly variant. Just like the regular designs, these shoes feature interwoven straps at the front, giving the toes coverage while leaving enough space for air to pass through. They’re also open at the back, making them an easy, breezy option for warmer days. 

Jelly flats

These shoes have the natural, flat-shoe shape, with jelly-like hollow grid patterns that come in whatever size and shape, be it circular and solid or diamond-shaped and iridescent.  They’re like your classic ballet flats, just a squeakier, PVC  kind.

Jelly sandals

I actually have a pair of these in my shoe rack. They’re perfect for everyday wear and sometimes don’t even give away that they’re actually plastic. They come in the shape of your regular sandals, complete with the usual straps and buckles.

Read also: These are the breeziest shoes to have in your wardrobe right now!

Jelly flip-flops

Jelly flip-flops, or, as we like to call them, “rubber slippers” are the kind of jelly shoes you can find anywhere and everywhere, so you really don’t have to look too far. Zara might be selling them for €23, but let’s just say I’ve seen these shoes in a very different setting — usually somewhere lined up in market stalls.

Mary Jane jelly flats

This features the classic horizontal straps that cross the top of the foot, also known as the instep. Mary Jane jellies are another well-known silhouette. Possibly THE most popular, given how well they fit into the whole balletcore revival and aesthetic, this is one that many women are wearing these days. They’re also very much like Mesha flats but plastic.

Jelly mules 

Chloé is one of the brands taking the jelly shoe beyond its nostalgic roots and into a more elevated fashion space.  Last year for SS26, they introduced a mule silhouette that, to me, looked like those little Barbie doll shoes meant for the doll but that you somehow still ended up wearing. I don’t know if that was the inspiration, but it looked amazing regardless. While Chloé’s take might have pushed the style into high-fashion territory, jelly mules come in all kinds of shapes and silhouettes, making them perfect for just about any setting.

Jelly sneakers 

Loewe, Maison Margiela, Dior, Adidas, Nike, Stella McCartney, Gucci — I could go on and on. The majority of the brands you know have a variation or model of the jelly sneaker, with fully plastic or plastic-incorporated designs becoming increasingly popular. Hailey Bieber, for one, has been spotted wearing the style, showcasing that the jelly sneaker can give even the most familiar silhouette a completely different feel. 

Read also: Fashionable footwear: The hottest sneakers for sports and style

How to style jelly shoes

Jelly shoes don’t have a very distinct setting or occasion where they have to be styled a certain way, especially because they’re essentially variations of other regular shoe designs. This gives you the freedom to style them however you’d prefer.

You can style your jelly sneakers with everyday, sporty, yoga or gym outfits, or even your streetwear looks. If it’s a ballet Jelly, you can wear it with dresses, baby tees or shorts. Fisherman jellies, on the other hand, are perfect for the beach or any casual outdoor outing.

Since the silhouettes are so versatile and come in so many different colours, they give you plenty of room to play around. You can wear them with socks, leg warmers or even accessorise them the way you would Crocs with little charms and trinkets. With all those holes and openings, there’s plenty of room to get creative.

Love them or hate them, you need a pair

Jelly shoes may not have always been everyone’s cup of tea, but they’ve certainly come a long way. There’s still something slightly funny about open-air shoes, or styles that leave your feet on full display, but perhaps that’s also part of the joy and fun of the shoes.

You don’t know whether to hate them or love them, and yet you still can’t deny their range and practicality, especially in the seasons when they’re at their best. So, I’d say you should definitely get at least one pair of jelly shoes in your closet. Not only will they revive the nostalgia, as we’ve established, but they’ll also come in handy when you least expect it. They have a way of turning your outfit around, giving it that pop of fun and pizzazz it might have been missing. So, if you’ve read to the end of this article, this is your sign to get a pair.

Read more: The biggest shoe trends we’re looking to still see everywhere in 2026

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