The moment I step outside, I swear I see someone wearing ballet flats. It’s become a uniform. A staple in every It girl’s wardrobe. The once-cringey shoe has officially become a cult favorite, and honestly, it’s kind of wild how quickly it has taken over the style world.
It all started with the classic ballet flat—the one with the delicate bow detail 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, and, just in time for summer, the jelly flat.
An early aughts icon, the jelly flat is officially having a renaissance in 2026, and it’s quickly becoming one of the season’s must-have shoes—especially with the jelly shoes trend popping off right now. 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 in New York City (where I’m lucky enough to call home), I’ve spotted so many styled in 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 Nordstrom Rack for just $25.
Besides the insanely affordable price tag, I was sold on these because they have that perfect jelly look with a statement pointed toe. As a petite girl, I’m always drawn to styles like this because they create the illusion of longer legs; plus, these feel a little different from other pairs I’ve seen. They also come in a mix of neutral tones and fun statement colors (which are currently sitting in my cart).
During my search, I also came across these jelly ballet flats I’m a big fan of, too! Shop them here:
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.
