21 juillet 2025
TipsFashionTrend

Jelly Sandals – The Summer Shoe of 2025

90s nostalgia meets a modern twist: The colorful plastic sandals from your childhood are making a bold comeback.

Who would've thought those glittery plastic shoes we used to wear barefoot to the pool or playground would suddenly be all over the streets of Zurich, Berlin, and Los Angeles? Yes, those see-through, jelly-textured sandals that once screamed "playdate" are now walking red carpets and making waves on TikTok with the hashtag #jellysandals.

Spotted on the feet of Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and countless fashion influencers, jelly sandals are back, but with a completely new vibe.

What exactly are jelly sandals?

Jelly sandals are lightweight, flexible shoes typically made from PVC. They first gained major popularity in the 80s and 90s for their vibrant colors, glitter effects, and signature cage-like designs that allow your feet to breathe. Affordable, waterproof, and almost indestructible, they were a childhood staple for many.

Fun fact: Jelly sandals didn't actually originate in the 90s. They date all the way back to the late 1970s in France, where shoemakers began reusing leftover PVC from other products. They were one of the early examples of upcycling in fashion.

Why are jelly sandals making a comeback now?

Jelly sandals are more than just a nostalgic flashback. High-end designers like The Row, Melissa, and Ancient Greek Sandals have reinvented the "ugly shoe" into something desirable and eco-conscious. Today's jelly sandals are often made from recycled or vegan PVC, designed for better comfort and shaped to support your foot.

Pro tip: If your new pair rubs a bit, just apply some anti-friction balm or Body Glide to the top of your foot and forget about painful blisters.

Which styles are trending in 2025?

We all remember the classic jelly styles from childhood – typically see-through, with a strap and buckle. But 2025's lineup is way more stylish and diverse:

More than just a shoe – Why Gen Z is all in

This trend hits differently, and not just visually. Jelly sandals bring with them a sense of lightness, playfulness, and a tiny bit of rebellion. They take us back to simpler times but fit perfectly into today's sustainable lifestyle.

Need some styling inspo for your jellies?

Don't worry – you won't look like you're heading to a kindergarten birthday party. Here's how to make jelly sandals part of your 2025 wardrobe:

Bonus: Jellies aren't just for summer. Throw on some thick socks and they transition perfectly into cooler weather.

Can you repair jelly sandals?

Yes, and it's easier than you think!

If a strap snaps or cracks, PVC-friendly glue like Shoe Goo or UHU Max Repair works wonders. For higher-end pairs, a good cobbler might even be able to fix or replace individual parts. Repairing means more life for your shoes, and less waste for the planet.

Less pressure. More jelly.

Whether you wear them ironically, unironically, or somewhere in between – jelly sandals are officially back. And they've grown up with us. They're cute, practical, sustainable, and full of personality. They prove that fashion doesn't have to be complicated. It can be joyful, affordable, and still a statement.

Keep an eye out for your very own pair, or better yet, check out Circlin, the brand-new secondhand platform launching soon. You'll discover Jelly Sandals (and tons of other trend pieces) in a whole new way: In video format – real, dynamic, and so much more trustworthy than static pics.

Join the waitlist now and be part of our exclusive launch event:

100 handpicked secondhand highlights, including sought-after brand pieces, offered at unbeatable prices – but only for our early community.

So... what are you waiting for?

Photo de profil de Belinda Klostermann

Belinda Klostermann

Belinda is content creator and copywriter at Circlin. She writes about sustainable consumption, secondhand fashion, and ideas that inspire and invite us to rethink the way we consume.

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