In T’s column 1 Piece, 10 Budgets, we share 10 perfect versions of an item in a range of prices. Once reserved for childhood, jelly shoes are now runway-approved staples that come in more grown-up silhouettes. Here are the T market editor Jaclyn Bloomfield’s favorites.
1. A New Day, $25
“These flats from the Target-owned brand A New Day have a simple slip-on shape that might bring to mind elegant form-fitting shoes like Loro Piana’s Floaty loafers — but their price tag is far more accessible.”
2. Free People Collection, $28
“For a softer, more feminine take, Free People offers a barely there silhouette with a mini-block heel and a rounded peep toe.”
3. Heavenly Jelly, $46
“This loafer-inspired option from the South Korean label Heavenly Jelly looks unexpectedly polished for a rubber shoe. With a subtle heel, it can transition easily between on- and off-duty looks.”
4. Melissa, $69
“First produced in 1997, the Possession sandal is one of the Brazilian brand Melissa’s signature styles. A fisherman sandal-jelly shoe hybrid, it also comes in children’s sizes and is made from Melflex, a flexible, supportive material that’s 100 percent recyclable.”
5. Senso, $115
“These shoes from the Australian footwear brand Senso come in four colorways and are a worthy alternative to the Row’s popular Mara netted jelly sandals — which debuted as part of the label’s pre-fall 2024 collection and are now only available on the resale market — but they come at a fraction of the cost.”
6. Tory Burch, $198
“These backless Mary Janes offer a preppier take on the jelly shoe. A buckle shaped like the brand’s logo adds a sophisticated touch.”
7. Vince, $198
“With a soft leather foot bed and translucent caged rubber upper, Vince’s Barcelona sandal might not be entirely waterproof like some other options on this list, but it’s among the most elevated.”
8. Ancient Greek Sandals, $255
“Rubber-based footwear is a family trade for the Ancient Greek Sandals co-founder Nikolas Minoglou: His grandfather founded the first jelly-shoe factory in Athens in 1957. The Homeria, a new take on a classic fisherman sandal, is made in Greece and features a thick hand-stitched leather sole.”
9. Chloé, $590
“Chloé introduced this sandal — which is made of TPU, a higher-quality and more environmentally friendly alternative to the more typical PVC — during its spring 2025 runway show, adding a dose of fun to the collection’s romantic, flowing silhouettes. The color options, which also include bubble gum pink, are just as playful, but the shoe, with its shell-shaped kitten heel, is decidedly refined.”
10. Bottega Veneta, $850
“Offered in ice blue and a soft yellow, Bottega Veneta’s Gertie sandal features a sturdy two-inch heel and a chunky lug sole. While its shape recalls the jelly shoes beloved by teens in the 1990s, its subtly exaggerated proportions feel modern.”
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