Have we reached peak ‘90s nostalgia yet? That’s the question I find myself asking whenever yet another trend comes around to snap me right back to my childhood. But, of course, fashion is cyclical, and even the most niche, throwback styles end up making a comeback eventually. And for the past few summers—as well as the one upon us—that includes a shoe that nearly every millennial remembers wearing at the pool and on the playground growing up: the jelly.
The clear, plasticky style that was all the rage (*gulp*) three to four decades ago picked up steam again in 2024, then again in 2025, and, indeed, is holding its ground for summer 2026. From the familiar fisherman sandals to flats and mules with a more mesh-like design (no doubt inspired by The Row’s Mara flats), jelly shoes are everywhere this season. And admittedly, they’re really cute—even for us grownups.
Alas, I know what you’re thinking: I can already feel the blisters forming and the sweat trapped on the bottom of my feet. But for their second (er, fourth?) act, jellies have finally evolved toward comfort. While we can’t speak to every style out there, two of my fellow PureWow editors and I can recommend at least four pairs that we’ve stepped out in ourselves, which didn’t leave us with the raw, chafed feet of our jelly-wearing youths. So if you’ve been admiring the returning trend from afar but were too traumatized to actually invest in a pair, consider these vetted-to-be-pain-free picks below.
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