A step in the right direction
when I was doing a lot of personal shopping, one of the things a lot of my clients found to be the most difficult thing to choose for themselves was footwear.
The rest of the outfit they could style pretty well and with not too much bother but when it came to footwear that’s where the look was really failing. Not so much with the winter wardrobe as a few well-chosen pairs of boots for smart and casual wear would carry them through the winter and were always super versatile. It was the footwear of the summer wardrobe that got people in a tizzy and I can see why for a number of reasons.
So many people don’t want to expose their feet, and this is especially true when it comes to workwear shoes; ballet flats can get a little bit uncomfortable when worn all day and your feet are prone to getting hot and uncomfortable.
While it can be amazing to shed the heavy boots and trainers, I personally have quite sensitive feet and no matter the shoe, when I first wear my summer shoes I will inevitably get blisters.
Regardless, I still adore a cute little summer shoe and I’m always so interested to see the shoe trends at the start of the season. One trend which I was a little unsure of was the jelly sandal. Now if you’re of a similar age to myself, you may well have worn a chunky jelly sandal in your late teenage years. I, in fact, wore a chunky jelly sandal with glitter ankle socks and thankfully there is no photographic evidence of this.
The 2026 jelly shoe is a much more elegant affair. Think of a flat pump with a deep v with a lattice effect jelly style. I have purchased a pair from H&M in burgundy and they also come in a light blue which will elevate all your summer looks.
I also spotted a red pair in M&S which would be so stunning when worn with white barrel leg jeans and a striped tee. I’ve tried on a lot of jelly sandals to find the right pair and I would advise sizing down as they all seem to be run on the larger side. If you spot a pair you like, I would also recommend buying insoles to avoid a sweaty foot situation. The jelly shoe won’t break the bank and are so indestructible so the red pair would be a good option as they are sort of timeless in a weird way.
If you’re looking for the perfect summer shoe that can take you from work to dinner date, then look no further than the backless, pointed toe mule. I have worn to death an off white pair with a kitten heel, I bought them years ago and they have dressed up everything from jeans to tracksuit pants (a helpful transitioning out of leisure wear and lockdown).
A summer shoe to me should be fun and I love adding colour to my looks with a brightly coloured pair of shoes so you can imagine how excited I was when I spotted the most beautiful blue mules from M&S.
These will be your ultimate summer statement shoe and the heel is low enough that you could wear anywhere. They also have the added bonus of covering your toes so could be worn on more formal occasions.