If you had told me a few years ago that I would be writing a blog post about jelly sandals, I would have laughed.

This is coming from the same person who once refused to wear trainers anywhere except the gym and who spent years convinced that plastic shoes belonged firmly in childhood. Fashion has a funny way of proving us wrong.

The truth is, some of my favourite summer shoes today are styles I would never have considered ten years ago. First came the heeled flip-flops, which have become one of my most-worn shoes this summer. Then came the jelly sandals.

The newer versions feel completely different to the ones I remember growing up. Chloé, Ancient Greek Sandals, Alaïa and Aquazzura have all created beautiful interpretations of the trend, and I recently added a pair of Jimmy Choo jelly heeled flip-flops to my wardrobe that I have been wearing constantly. They are comfortable, easy to style and somehow manage to feel both playful and chic at the same time.

So if you are also warming up to the jelly sandal trend this summer, these are the styles I would actually wear.

If regular flip-flops are the unofficial shoe of summer, jelly flip-flops are their slightly more interesting cousin.

They have the same effortless feel, but add a little personality to an outfit. I particularly love them for holidays because they work with almost everything I pack. Swimwear, linen trousers, white dresses, oversized shirts thrown over a bikini, they seem to fit into every version of summer dressing.

What I like most is that they do not feel like a trend you have to overthink. You put them on and get on with your day. There is something quite refreshing about that in a world where every other trend seems to require a strategy document and a mood board. Some of the luxury versions are genuinely beautiful, but there are also plenty of great high street options if you simply want to test the waters before committing.

Every time I saw them at first, a small voice in my head immediately reminded me of primary school holidays and plastic shoes packed into a beach bag. Then, somewhere along the way, fashion people started styling them with beautiful dresses, relaxed tailoring and woven bags, and I found myself saving screenshots.

Which is usually how these things begin. The versions I gravitate towards are the more minimal ones. Neutral colours, clean lines and silhouettes that blend into an outfit rather than dominate it. Alaïa has some particularly beautiful versions, but the appeal of this trend is that you do not need to spend a fortune to participate. Some trends are worth investing in immediately. Others deserve a short trial period before making room in your permanent wardrobe.

This is probably my favourite category of the three. Mainly because if you had asked me a few years ago which jelly sandal I would end up loving most, I would almost certainly have guessed wrong.

A small heel changes everything. The shoe instantly feels less beach club and more summer dinner. Less poolside and more sunset drinks. I recently added the Jimmy Choo pair to my wardrobe and have already worn them far more than I expected. The soft brown shade works with almost everything I own, which is probably why I keep reaching for them.

Chloé, Aquazzura and several other brands have also embraced the trend, and there are some great high street versions if you are looking to try it without making too much of a commitment.

The thing I appreciate most about jelly sandals is that they do not take themselves too seriously.

Fashion can sometimes become incredibly serious. Every season arrives with a new list of rules, must-haves and items we are apparently supposed to replace immediately. Jelly sandals feel like the opposite of that.

They are fun. They are slightly nostalgic. They make me smile.

And honestly, I think summer shoes should do exactly that.

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