By Guia Rossi. Cover image courtesy by The Row, Diesel, Nodaleto, Skims, Fenty x Puma, Bottega Veneta and Chloè.
We’ve probably all worn a pair of rubber sandals as children—so our feet wouldn’t burn, so we wouldn’t get cut on the rocks, so we could feel fresh even on wet sand. Yet today, even as adults and likely for different reasons, we find ourselves irresistibly drawn to jelly shoes, a true guilty pleasure of this hot summer 2025. These rubber sandals borrow their shapes from some of our favorite summer footwear—ballet flats, mules, woven sandals, and flip‑flops.
Jelly Shoes 2025: the Waterproof Trend That Shows It All
Come to think of it, slipping into a pair of transparent, colorful summer sandals is embracing one of the most seductive aesthetics of all: the see‑through trend. Applied to footwear, it introduces fascinating dynamics in how it pairs with different outfits. And let’s clear one thing up: jelly shoes aren’t defined by gender—men’s or women’s—they’re 100% unisex.
Jelly Shoes 2025: From The Row to Skims Ballet Flats—Your Upgrade Picks for Summer 2025
Jelly Ballerinas: Flip Your Summer Look into a Dream
The Row
Back in June 2024, Jennifer Lawrence couldn’t resist the Olsen sisters’ influence, stepping out in a pair of finely netted, colorful jelly ballet flats from The Row’s Pre‑Fall 2024 line—a major style moment. They were a refreshing, jelly-juice reinvention of the compact mesh ballet shoe (think Alaïa), blending seamlessly into the fisherman-style aesthetic that made jelly footwear so iconic in the ’80s. What truly elevated The Row’s Mara flats and made the trend believable? The leather sole that grounded the look in sophistication.
Skims
With her signature Midas touch, Kim Kardashian has struck again. Following the massive debut of Skims’ inclusive body-shaping underwear—available in everyone’s skin tones—and the buzz-worthy nipple-piercing-enhanced bra, Skims has now released a pair of closed-toe, fully transparent jelly flats with breathable ventilation holes at the sole. The moment they went viral on TikTok, they sold out in record time—especially the Clay variant, which soared in popularity and inspired a slew of knockoffs after just one scroll.
Jelly Shoes 2025: Y2K Heels & Thong Sandals Make a Stylish Comeback
Chloé
Chloé’s jelly sandals are the transparent summer heels with a shell-shaped heel, ankle strap, and oversized tonal logo on the sole, designed with great insight by Chemena Kamali. They debut in a delicate summer palette reminiscent of sorbets and popsicles—irresistible and playful. A joyful declaration for Summer 2025.
Fenty X Puma
Rihanna continues to push the boundaries of footwear design with her latest collaboration with PUMA. The FENTY x PUMA Cat Cleat Jelly flip-flops are a bold fusion of athletic inspiration and nostalgic Y2K aesthetics. These jelly sandals feature a soccer cleat-inspired sole, complete with four molded studs, and are adorned with tonal stitching reminiscent of PUMA’s iconic sneakers.
Jelly Shoes 2025: The Fisherman Model Reimagined
Bottega Veneta
With a 5 cm heel and a captivating Zenith blue hue, Bottega Veneta brings its bold design sensibility to summer jelly sandals. The Gertie Fisherman sandals feature a rounded toe reminiscent of children’s footwear and a classic fisherman cage construction, elevating the traditional rubber flip-flop into a chic, Y2K-inspired statement piece.
Nodaleto x Melissa
The iconic Melissa Possession sandal gets a fearless upgrade with Nodaleto’s signature boldness. Infused with a mesmerizing tangerine gradient effect, this reimagined classic brings movement and vibrancy to every step. Featuring the beloved interlaced upper and soft insole for ultimate comfort, it merges nostalgia with contemporary edge. What else?
