Every time I've stepped outside this summer, I swear I've seen someone wearing ballet flats. It’s become a uniform, a staple in every It girl’s wardrobe. The once-twee shoe has officially become a cult favourite, and honestly, it’s kind of wild how quickly it has taken over the style world.
It all started with the classic ballet pump – the one with the delicate bow detail at the toe that mimics an actual ballet slipper. It’s a timeless style that has proven it can withstand every trend cycle, no matter the decade. From there, the silhouette has evolved into countless iterations: the glove flat, the jazz flat, woven ballet flats, and, just in time for peak summer, the jelly flat.
An early aughts icon, the jelly flat is officially having a renaissance in 2026, and it’s quickly become one of the season’s must-have shoes. The styles from the past had a flimsy, purely casual feel, but today’s versions have gotten a major upgrade. With elevated materials, cool details, and modern silhouettes, today’s jelly flat feels more like a true fashion statement.
Out and about on streets across the UK, I’ve spotted jelly ballet flats styled in so many unique ways. They can be dressed up with a maxi skirt and silky blouse, or dressed down with denim shorts and a graphic tee while still feeling polished. The combination of the signature rubbery design and playful silhouette keeps them feeling down-to-earth, yet undeniably chic.
Needless to say, I’ve been dying to get my hands on a pair, and I finally found my perfect match at New Look. And the best part? They're just £9 in the sale, marked down from £18.99.
New Look Truffle Black Jelly Lattice High Top Ballet Pumps
Besides the insanely affordable price tag, I was sold on these because they have that perfect jelly look with a sophisticated, high-cut silhouette that feels a little different from other pairs I’ve seen. The classic black colourway stops them from feeling too childish and will go with pretty much everything you own, but they do also come in a silver sparkly option if you want to lean into the nostalgia.
Below, find more jelly ballet flats available to shop right now:
FP Collection Starlight Jelly Flats
Linzi Lagoon Pink Jelly Caged Sandals
Ancient Greek Sandals Iro Ballet Flats
Michael Kors Pixie Jelly Ballet Flat
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
