Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Eve Dawes
Jelly shoes are officially back in style, and this isn’t a quiet comeback. Women’s jelly shoes have gone from a childhood memory to a genuine 2026 fashion trend, showing up everywhere from the runways to the high street and beach. What started as The Row’s viral lattice flat a couple of seasons ago has since pulled in Chloé, Loewe, Tory Burch and even Nike, proving this is a lot more than nostalgia dressed up as fashion. I was slow to jump on the jelly sandals 2026 shoe trend but am so glad I finally did. The playful, cool girl jelly shoes are practical, comfortable and one of the easiest and most affordable ways to update your look this year. Keep reading for the best women’s jelly shoes, kitten heels and cage flats to wear this season.
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Why Jelly Shoes Are Trending Again
The modern jelly shoe revival traces back to The Row’s Mara flat, a lattice cut ballet style that sold out almost instantly in every color when it debuted. Since then, the trend has kept building rather than fading. Chloé’s creative director Chemena Kamali has pushed the material further with translucent TPU mules and kitten heel sandals, while Loewe’s Spring 2026 campaign leaned into the surreal, slightly uncanny appeal of clear plastic footwear. Tory Burch, DKNY, Steve Madden and Jeffrey Campbell have all released their own takes, and even Melissa, long known as the original modern jelly shoe brand, has continued collaborating with major names to keep the trend fresh.
Are Jelly Shoes Just 80’s and Y2K Nostalgia?
Partly, but not entirely. While the trend clearly taps into 90s and Y2K nostalgia, 2026’s jelly shoes lean more into material and shape innovation than a straight throwback. Think smoky, translucent finishes, sculptural kitten heels, and caged silhouettes rather than the stiff, glittery plastic flip flops many of us wore as kids. Today’s versions often come with cork footbeds, cushioned insoles and softer PVC, making them genuinely comfortable rather than just nostalgic.
Are Jelly Shoes Actually in Style for 2026?
Yes. Love them or hate them, this shoe trend is sticking around. Between the runway validation from The Row, Chloé and Loewe, celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Zoë Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence, and the Olsen Twins, and the fact that major retailers and high street brands have all followed with their own versions, jelly shoes have moved well past a passing fad. If you want to know how to actually wear them, check out my how to style jelly shoes guide, and if you’re deciding on a specific brand, my Melissa jelly shoes review breaks down whether the original is still worth it.
Which pair is right for you?
If you love:
- 80’s nostalgia: the Free People’s Melissa sandals that I own or Ancient Greek women’s jelly shoes.
- Mesh ballet flats: Alaïa, H&M’or Steve Madden.
- Elegant styles: Khaite, Melissa jelly heels, Zara, Chloé‘s Cinderella blue jelly mules (which I’m dying to get my hands on), or Heavenly Jelly’s Glam Jelly Ballet Flats.
Shop the trending jelly shoes to wear this season
If you’re looking to snag a pair of this sandal X ballet flat hybrid these are my top picks from designer to luxe for less, classic caged silhouettes to heeled thong jelly sandals, the SS26 options are vast! If you still can’t find a pair you love, head to Melissa who has over 900 styles of jelly shoes, so you’re bound to find a pair or 3 with your name all over them!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, jelly shoes are a genuine 2026 fashion trend, backed by runway collections from The Row, Chloé and Loewe, alongside wide adoption from high street and contemporary brands.
This shoe trend was reignited by The Row’s viral Mara flat, and has since grown through Chloé, Loewe and Tory Burch’s own takes, moving beyond simple 90s nostalgia into more sculptural, material forward designs.
Modern jelly shoes are far more comfortable than the versions many people wore as kids, often featuring cork footbeds, cushioned insoles and softer PVC materials.
This year’s jelly shoes lean into more surreal, translucent finishes and sculptural shapes like kitten heels and caged silhouettes, rather than the stiff, glittery plastic styles from childhood.
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