Trying the "It" Shoe of the Summer: Jellies
Accessible to Everyone, with Prices Ranging from $18 to $1000
Jellies were introduced by The Row in its Pre-Fall 2024 collection and are apparently reminiscent of what many wore in their childhood (I did not, but I guess they were not widely available here). Little by little, different iterations of the jellies started popping up in my Instagram and Substack feeds. I felt intrigued. They added an interesting touch to many outfits and seemed very practical for a summer lifestyle.
The Row jellies are certainly out of my budget, but I discovered some affordable alternatives from L.A. Apparel through
. At just $18 USD / €25, they were so budget-friendly that I couldn’t decide on a single color, so I ended up ordering three. I chose the following colorways: clear (as recommended by Irene Kim), white (my own choice), and tangerine (also seen on Irene Kim —notice a pattern here? :) ). Honestly, there were so many great colors that I struggled to pick the best ones. When they finally arrived, I was super excited to start experimenting with them!
I was so excited that I immediately tried the clear ones, then the tangerine, and finally the white. Alert—there was some dye transfer from the tangerine pair to the white, leaving the sole with a yellowish tint. Perhaps my feet were too warm, or there was another reason, but be cautious if you’re buying multiple pairs and plan on returning any. In any case, the white ones are definitely staying with me now.
The clear ones were love at first sight. You can wear them with anything. Take a look at the image below of my favorite summer outfit—they add just the right amount of subtle texture, enhancing any outfit you wear.
They also elevate another of my favorite outfits below, adding a grayish vibe that complements the deconstructed Brancusi jeans from Tibi.
The clear ones look great even with more autumnal outfits—here they are paired with black tights.
These jellies have a feminine and retro vibe, so when pairing them with a more traditional dress, I felt the need to add something sportier to balance the look. A waist bag served this purpose perfectly, and the Tibi bag I used even functions as a belt—I could even punch an extra hole in it to wear it around my waist. However, the overall combination ended up feeling a bit average to me.
Dress: Uniqlo, Bag: Tibi (old), Jellies: L.A. Apparel
So far, the clear ones have been the standout, but the white jellies truly shine when paired with more "dirty" or, in Tibi-speak, Ring 3 outfits. I love how they bring a fresh contrast to this slightly grungy purple ensemble.
Top: Uniqlo, Pants: J.Crew (old), Jellies: L.A. Apparel
Jellies + Socks: A Winning Combination?
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