Celebrities Are Wearing These $9 Summer Sandals From the ‘90s That Are More Controversial Than Crocs

Tara Gonzalez

May 26, 2021 at 9:13 AM·2 min read

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People always joke that they would totally wear the outfits their mothers dressed them up in in middle school, but the truth is, 10-year-old me really knew how to dress. My mom obviously shopped for me, but I did get to have some input and would style my outfits before bed every night. And for a long time, every single summer outfit revolved around my favorite accessory: jelly sandals. Almost all of them had a hint of glitter in them, as they should.

Jelly sandals are, without a doubt, a huge '90s trend that's also absolutely controversial — which is honestly to be expected of shoes that look as though they are made of jello. People love to hate on them, and last summer there wasn't a single person that wasn't shocked by their unexpected comeback.

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British designer Alexachung's second collaboration with footwear brand Juju — which launched in May 2020 — featured floral embellishments on its jellies and won over social media almost instantly. Then, Gucci released the now best-selling rubber slide sandals a year later. Even Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's The Row had itstheir own take on the trend with a pair of sandals that. They obviously retail for nearly $1,000 and are made of leather instead of anything remotely jello-looking, but the inspiration is still there. Jelly sandals' popularity makes sense when you consider that they're reminiscent of a time that isn't 2020/2021 (a.k.a a better time).

Now, Blake Lively was recently seen out with Ryan Reynolds in New York wearing a pair of jelly sandals, which is proof that the trend is here to stay this season. Lively made a strong case for the controversial sandal in a long floral dress and gold jewelry. It was essentially what summer would look like if it could be an outfit. And the good news is, jelly sandals are probably the least expensive summer trend of all time; you can find a pair for just $9 on Amazon.

In conclusion, Crocs and Birkenstocks have some competition. And just imagine how proud middle school you would be of a summer outfit styled around jelly sandals in 2021. Let's just say, my summer mood board may or may not feature some photos of my outfits from under the age of 10. As it should.

Shop the controversial celeb-approved sandal trend, below.