Jumping for Jelly Flats!

My mother is fond of saying that she's always right. Unfortunately she has an annoying habit of being right about that. Over the years we have fought tooth-and-nail battles over clothes, ranging from items like furry vests, khakis, denim jackets, and of course, jelly sandals. As you can see from this list, my mother was right about all these things being in fashion at some point or another - she was just usually off by a few years. I actually did secretly love my jelly sandals as a child, since they reminded me of the forbidden jelly candies I couldn't eat and they were shiny so of course I loved them, but for some forgotten principle I had to act like I hated them. Sorry Mom, but again you were right.

Now here we are in the year 2010 and jelly sandals are back in a big way! It's not surprising considering how comfortable and versatile they can be, plus anything shiny and cute always twitches that soft spot in us young-at-heart modern women! This time around, jellies are available in a wide variety of styles, but the ones I'm most into at the moment are jelly flats, which are a natural pairing of cuteness plus elegance!

Fred Flare Dazzling jelly ballet flats, $58

These darling ballet flats are both sparkly, shiny, and cute! Its simple design is offset by the multitude of teeny crystal studs and the clear color elongates the legs. It's almost too cute for anyone over 15, but paired with more grownup clothes, these flats would be perfect for the everyday.

Fred Flare Darling bow jelly flats, $42

With their fire-engine red color, and perky bow, what's not to love about these flats? These would look great paired with some navy high-waisted shorts and a striped top for a nautical feel; or how about a dainty white summer dress?

Stuart Weitzman 'Pellets' jelly flats, $148.17 via Nordstrom

If you're willing to splurge on this trend, then I would recommend these understated gold flats from Stuart Weitzman. Unlike the first two pairs, these flats have a more matte finish and come in either gold or black. To add that hint of luxury, these flats feature a crown of gold metallic baubles on the toe and have leather insoles.

Will you be investing in some jelly flats this summer?