For years, fashion's so-called 'ugly shoe' movement has challenged the idea that footwear needs to be traditionally pretty to be stylish. From chunky trainers to practical sandals, unconventional shoes have repeatedly found their way into wardrobes—and now, another unexpected style is having its moment.
This time, it is the humble jelly shoe.
Once associated with childhood summer holidays, beach trips and rock pools, transparent jelly shoes are suddenly appearing in more fashion-forward outfits. The playful footwear has been spotted in designer collections and, more recently, on stylish figures including Alexa Chung, giving the nostalgic shoe a distinctly grown-up makeover.
Jelly Shoes Are Having a Fashion Comeback
The latest jelly shoe trend sits somewhere between a practical water shoe and a polished ballet flat. Usually made from transparent or semi-transparent PVC, the shoes often feature a simple flat silhouette that makes them surprisingly easy to style.
Their appeal also comes from their versatility. While they may have originally been designed with beaches and paddling pools in mind, today's versions are being worn as part of everyday summer outfits.
The transparent finish gives the shoes a playful quality without overwhelming an outfit. That makes them particularly suited to the transitional period between summer and autumn, when heavy boots can feel too much but open sandals may no longer feel quite right.
Alexa Chung Gives the Trend a Fashion-Girl Seal of Approval
Alexa Chung is among those embracing the unexpected footwear trend. The British fashion personality recently wore transparent flats with a white, calf-skimming midi dress in gauzy cotton.
The combination is a useful lesson in how to make jelly shoes feel less like holiday footwear and more like part of a considered outfit. The dress's simplicity lets the shoes add a subtle dose of personality without competing with the rest of the look.
It also reminds us that fashion trends do not have to be complicated. A simple pair of transparent flats can completely change the feel of an otherwise understated outfit.
Designers Are Getting Involved Too
The return of jelly shoes is not limited to street style. Several established footwear brands have also embraced the transparent trend, helping move the style beyond its nostalgic origins.
Ancient Greek Sandals has introduced PVC ballet flats, while Jimmy Choo has put a more luxurious spin on the trend with its embellished jelly styles. Tory Burch has also offered its take on the look with a Mary Jane-inspired jelly shoe.
These designs demonstrate just how far the trend has travelled. What was once viewed primarily as practical summer footwear has become another canvas for designers to experiment with shape, texture and embellishment.
How to Wear the Jelly Shoe Trend
The easiest way to wear jelly shoes is to keep the rest of the outfit relatively simple. A cotton midi dress is an obvious pairing, particularly if you want to recreate the effortless feel of Alexa Chung's look.
For a more casual outfit, transparent flats can work with straight-leg jeans and a simple T-shirt. Alternatively, try them with tailored trousers and a lightweight blouse for a more polished take.
Because jelly shoes already have a distinctive appearance, there is no need to overcomplicate the styling. Neutral colours and simple silhouettes let the footwear be the focal point.
They are also particularly useful for late-summer dressing. When temperatures are still warm, but you are beginning to think about autumn wardrobes, a closed-toe flat can provide a little more coverage than sandals while remaining lightweight.
Why the 'Ugly Shoe' Trend Keeps Coming Back
The popularity of jelly shoes is part of a much bigger shift in fashion. Over the past few years, traditionally unfashionable or purely practical footwear has repeatedly been reimagined as desirable.
The appeal is partly nostalgia but also about contrast. Pairing a deliberately unconventional shoe with a feminine dress or polished tailoring creates an outfit that feels more modern and less predictable.
That tension between practicality and style has become a defining feature of the ugly shoe trend. Rather than trying to hide the unusual design, fashion people are making it the centre of the outfit.
The Unexpected Shoe Worth Trying This Summer
Jelly shoes may not be the first footwear choice that comes to mind when putting together a chic summer outfit. But with fashion figures such as Alexa Chung embracing the look and designers offering increasingly sophisticated versions, the trend has clearly moved beyond its childhood associations.
Whether you opt for a simple transparent ballet flat, a Mary Jane-inspired design or a more embellished version, the jelly shoe offers an easy way to experiment with the latest ugly shoe trend.
And if you thought your summer sandals were the only option for warm-weather dressing, fashion's latest obsession suggests it may be time to reconsider.
