Chloé’s Chemena Kamali created one of the most in-demand shoes of summer 2026. In her SS25 collection for the fashion house, Kamali offered playful kitten-heel jelly flip-flops for our consideration, which quickly achieved viral status.
This year, she has doubled down on jellies, giving them an even more grown-up spin. The latest iteration, a peep-toe kitten-heel mule vaguely reminiscent of Cinderella’s glass slipper rendered in transparent TPU, has taken fashion discourse by storm.
Their return arrives amid fashion’s ongoing fascination with the so-called “ugly shoe”.
As consumers, we are all, to some extent, at the mercy of footwear’s ever-accelerating trend cycle. One season it’s the rise of FiveFingers toe shoes, with their amphibian-like design that encases each toe individually.
The next, it’s Chanel’s Cruise 2027 barely-there “naked” sandal, or the surprising return of Y2K gladiator sandals. Whether you participate enthusiastically or merely observe from the sidelines, the allure of a viral shoe is almost impossible to escape.
In recent years, fashion’s most compelling footwear has been less concerned with conventional beauty and more interested in surprise.
From Maison Margiela’s iconic Tabi shoes (arguably the spiritual predecessor to today’s aforementioned toe shoes) and the luxury resurrection of Crocs to sneakerinas, some of the industry’s most coveted shoes have been those that look slightly wrong. Their appeal lies precisely in their awkwardness.
As fashion commentator J’Nae Phillips has observed, an unexpected shoe can make someone appear less overly polished and more interesting. The phenomenon also aligns neatly with stylist Allison Bornstein’s much-discussed “wrong shoe theory”, which argues that the most successful outfits often feature footwear that feels slightly unexpected.
Rather than matching perfectly, the shoe creates tension, giving the overall look greater character.
In many ways, Chloé’s jelly shoes represent the perfect culmination of this fashion impulse. They are nostalgic yet futuristic, playful yet oddly elegant. They reference childhood while signalling a willingness to participate in fashion’s ongoing conversation around irony and taste. Much like the Croc, the Tabi or the sneakerina before them, their appeal lies not in universal attractiveness but in their ability to spark a reaction.
So, if you’re in the market for an “ugly shoe”, below are our favourites.
Caramba White
$440 at Camper
Paris ‘The Rebel’ Black Pony Hair
$605 at Birkenstock x Song For The Mute
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