Jelly shoes are back! Here’s how we’re wearing them now

Have you been hankering after a pair of jelly shoes? You’re not alone. There’s been a 100 per cent growth in Google searches for jelly sandals in the past month. The sudden style surge is thanks to designer brands, including The Row, Coach and Chloé, deploying their own very chic versions of them in their summer collections.

The Row’s sell-out PVC ballerinas come in a caged mesh, while Chloé gave its jellies a beach-to-bar update with an ankle strap and kitten heel, and Coach went full 1990s fisherman. All cute and trendy, but there’s a hitch: most of these sandals are made of PVC plastic, one of the most problematic plastics in the world to dispose of safely. No one is talking about that.

So, what to do if you like the look, but hate the landfill vibes? Our first suggestion is to buy a slightly more expensive pair you’ll value more and that has more considered compositions, plus some of the brands making them offer recycling solutions. We also recommend looking for styles made from 100% thermoplastic, which releases fewer toxic chemicals when disposed of, or natural rubber, which biodegrades over time.

Cos’s cut-out jelly ballet flats are made from thermoplastic and have a leather sole for extra comfort and longevity – these get the Good Housekeeping stamp of approval (extra points if you keep them in use for years) – while Ancient Greeks’ The Row-inspired Iro caged ballet flats are made of 100% natural rubber and come in 12 colours. For another longer-lasting take on this flash-in-the-pan trend, Mango’s collaboration with British designer Supriya Lele offers a gorgeous nude jelly shoe with a slingback and toe-post – they look barely there, but definitely make a statement.

Cheaper styles from fan favourites JuJu jellies and Melissa are, I’m afraid, made from PVC, so if you’re going to buy a cheap pair, at least commit to using them for as many years as possible. If no fabric composition is given, such as the pair we’ve found at M&S for under £20, they will indeed be plastic. Finally, for a designer double of the Chloé jellies, head to Free People and save £382 on a fantastic lookalike.

Looking through the endless social media comments on the jelly sandals trend, though, most people do complain they make their feet smelly, sweaty and give them blisters – but at least they’re easy to clean and are waterproof. So, the question really is: nostalgia over practicality? We’ll leave you to decide.