My Modern Love: The Jelly Shoe

I cannot lie... I LOVE JELLY SHOES! These stinky sweaty feet causing foot mittens make me smile. I am very particular about the style of jelly I like. When it comes to everyday flats, the woven style will always win. (I am not a fan of the perforated style.) I have always liked the jelly shoe, however since I picked up 4 pairs a few summers back at Target for $2.50 each, I have been on a constant lookout for these gems since they tend to break fairly easily on me due to me wearing them daily. My first 4 pairs were in clear, neon green, neon pink, and electric blue. I have each of those pairs till they were dead and then some. Not even after others begging and pleading me to toss them, would I do just that. Not until I found replacements. Goodness why didn't I buy 10 pairs of each color when I had the chance! Since then I have found more at Goodwills and thrift stores to replace the broken ones (which I have now finally tossed). Still I can never say no to the jelly shoe. Even if it is in the same color.

I also like the strip-side ones. I have a pair in black and in white, but I barely wear those because the strappy vamp gets caught on my pinky toe.

The most I have ever paid for a pair of these is $6. (Actually that was the price my friend paid. They were a gift.) Although these are my cheapy jellies, I don't want to pay more than $5 a pair. However, being that they are getting harder and harder to find, I am debating on paying $15 as that seems to be the going price on Etsy. Oh by the way etsy sellers with Jellies... chances are your vintage 80's jellies are not actually vintage, but the repros Target put out a few years back. So $15 is a bit pricey for $2.50 retro shoes that you probably bought at Goodwill for $1.00.

Now that I am a grown up (har har har) I have found myself buying grown up jellies. These are my EXPENSIVE jellies that range from $25-75 that I have spent on jellies. Melissa's are the top dogs of this pack. Now before you go screaming $75 on jellies, keep in mind these are on sale from an average of $200 for the shoes and are actually one hell of a deal.

I find that when it comes to my expensive jellies, I usually like 2 style types. Style 1 will look good with vintage 40's. Style 2 80's, Baby! All the way!

While I have my own pet peeves about vintage wearing, such as when shooting for one particular era, make sure your hair matches your dress. (Not to be mistaken for the eclectic vintage wearing that can blend eras.) I find that I am ok with perfect era vintage with jelly shoes. Why? Because I am convinced that had jellies been around back in the 30's, 40's, and 50's women would have worn them more than they had in the 80's. With the fascination of plastics in that era and the obvious fashion accessories of various plastics (Bakelite, celluloid, and Lucite) there is no reason why women wouldn't have worn them. Besides a lot of fashion is what is made and available at the time. It may be an excuse, but it is a good one for me! :-D However, don't let me see you with 40's hair at a 50's event! Hah! (rockabilly broads don't count.)

So here is my small collection. First the cheapies and then the $$$$$$$$$