Maybe I Was Wrong About Jelly Sandals
Photo: Courtesy of The Row

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Ten years ago, I waltzed into an American Apparel and bought a pair of heeled fisherman jelly sandals made out of a clear, sparkly PVC. My underdeveloped brain failed to consider the fact that the literal plastic, plus the San Fernando Valley heat would lead to some truly heinous blistering. Not only were they uncomfortable, but I couldn’t figure out how to style them. It’s safe to say that my jelly sandals rarely left the closet after their inaugural outing, and I’ve been quite staunchly against repurchasing them ever since.

But recently, a pair of shoes from The Row are forcing me to reconsider my anti-jelly stance. The Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen-fronted brand sent a pair of woven flats down the runway during their pre-fall 2024 show in Paris last September. Already a staple on editor wishlists, perhaps these are 2024’s answer to the mesh flats craze.

New York NY EXCLUSIVE Actress Jennifer Lawrence gets dressed in timeless denim and a graphic tee for a morning coffee...

Jennifer Lawrence, 2022

 REES, SINY

Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds are photographed getting back home after having diner in the Tribeca...

Blake Lively, 2021

 © Elder Ordonez

These funky flats are the subtler alternative to the chunky PVC sandals of my youth. With clear and light pink colorways, The Row’s cage flats appeal to even the most subtle dressers—another problem I had with the shoes’ inherent loudness. But for the loud and proud, there’s always the summery slushie colors: cherry red and electric blue. There’s no doubt that we’ll be seeing these shoes everywhere this summer, but the jelly sandal has been creeping its way back into the zeitgeist for some time now—with a little help from Taylor SwiftBlake Lively, and Jennifer Lawrence.