Summer is just around the corner, and there is one shoe on our radar — the jelly sandal. From the rocky beach, to the gritty sand, and the cold, chlorine-filled pool, you'll need a shoe that can withstand all the elements the season has to offer.
While it feels like there are plenty of exciting shoe trends emerging this season, including backless loafers and fierce animal print, as the weather starts to heat up, jelly sandals are one to really pay attention to. The style can take all shapes and forms: a high heel, a candy-like colour, a sweet Mary-Jane style. Some will find the semi-transparent foot-bearing style divisive, but it really is the perfect shoe for in and out of the water and all the sun-kissed summer activities in between.
Think childhood summer nostalgia. Designers like Tory Burch, Loewe and Melissa are leaning into the material's inherent playfulness — translucent uppers, glittery finishes, bold monochromes — proving that practical and pretty are not mutually exclusive. Chloé has shown they are mad for the jelly, following their kitten-heel thong-toe sandals from last year and doubling down for Spring/Summer 2026 with Disney-princess style peep-toe mules.
The beauty of PVC is its versatility. Opt for a pair of flip flops to wear poolside in saturated crimson or electric blue. Or, elevate your beach-to-streets look with clear ballet flats that let your pedicure shine. The material's waterproof nature means sand and splash are all welcome.
Luckily, you don't need a designer budget to dive back into this trend. The high street offers plenty of affordable yet polished, stylish pairs in a variety of colourways. Top of our wishlist? M&S' ankle strap flat jelly sandals, which, thanks to their backless mule silhouette, tick off two trends this summer. Available in a vibrant green hue and a gorgeous sea blue, as well as more neutral black and clear options, they're selling out fast online, so get over to your local store quick to nab them in time for the heatwave.
Whether you're planning a European beach escape or you have big BBQ plans for this scorcher of a bank holiday weekend, jelly sandals are the answer — and they're sure to continue to be the star of the summer. We've rounded up the best of the wear-anywhere pairs to shop now, including Zara's ballet flats that rival The Row's cult Mara shoes and Scholl's jelly reinterpretation of its iconic Pescura mules, courtesy of a collab with Melissa.
M&S Ankle strap jelly mule sandals
Ancient Greek Sandals Jelly flip flop caramel
Ancient Greek Sandals Jelly flip flop caramel
Jessica (aka Jess) is a Senior Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan, working across both fashion market and styling for print stories, as well as digital fashion and commerce coverage. Prior to joining Cosmo, she worked in fashion at Vanity Fair. Jess lives in New York City and loves spotlighting emerging designers you might not have heard of yet—while also being an unabashedly devoted Love Island fan (dating back to Season 1 of Love Island UK, that’s how serious). See more of her work here, and follow her on Instagram if you love her.
Sophie Leen is the Bookings Editor for Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK. She specialises in creating fashion and shopping content across both digital and print platforms, as well as producing all of our fashion editorial photoshoots, which have included our digital cover with Olly Alexander and our curve influencer’s letter to the high street story. Sophie also looks after our Try Before You Train franchise where our team have tested and reviewed over 100 gymwear items.
