It all started with a conversation over Memorial Day Weekend. My friend Isabella asked if I had seen the Chloé Jelly Mules. She said they looked like Cinderella’s glass slipper, only comfier. I did a quick search, and, of course, Kirna Zabete, always a step ahead of every trend, was already carrying them. You can find them online at kirnazabete.com or in person at the KZ East Hampton store at 66 Newtown Lane. That was the spark. By June, I couldn’t look anywhere without spotting a pair of jelly sandals. And then came the bags. Jelly totes, jelly clutches, twilly scarves to wrap around the handles of your jelly bag. The jellies had officially taken over.
Now, I grew up wearing jelly sandals in the ’80s. They were cute, but they were not exactly kind to your feet. Blisters were basically a rite of passage. The good news is that the current generation of jellies has fixed all of that. Steve Madden was kind enough to send me some of their best sellers, and their Grove in Tan with Rhinestones is the perfect beach flip-flop alternative. Stylish, easy to clean, and your feet won’t hate you by sunset. The best thing about jellies is that you can literally hose them down after a day at the beach.
And let’s take it one step further. A jelly sandal can 100% work for an evening out. Jellies now come with kitten heels in pink, orange, and blue, plus wedge styles in a whole range of colors. I’m also seeing the Mary Jane silhouette in jelly form, which feels both nostalgic and completely fresh.
It’s no surprise that Everything But Water in East Hampton has been selling jelly sandals for decades. I popped in to check out their latest versions by Melissa, Ancient Greek Sandals, and Sam Edelman. If you haven’t been, Everything But Water is your one-stop shop for all things beach. They’ll outfit you from head to toe in the latest swimsuits, coverups, and wide-brimmed hats, with jelly sandals as the perfect finishing touch.
So here’s the bottom line. If you want to splurge, the Chloé options at Kirna Zabête are worth every penny. If you want a quick jelly fix without the investment, head to Steve Madden in Sag Harbor or Everything But Water in East Hampton. Either way, the jellies are back, your feet are happy, and your inner 8-year-old is here for it.
