Translucent plastic sandals from our childhood, jelly shoes are back this summer in an ultra-fashionable version that no longer has much of an innocent feel to it. Pop colors, futuristic volumes, bold glass effect: the platform sandals by Melissa and Diesel are driving social media into a frenzy. There remains one question that really intrigues: can this 90’s icon still reinvent itself.
Because this season, the jelly trend goes far beyond a simple nostalgic wink. Between catwalks inspired by the film, ultra-shiny jelly nail manicures and glossy PVC sandals, the same visual language is established. In the center, the Quantum Platform sandal lays the foundations of this new fashion desire and promises to shake up our summer 2026 looks.
From vintage jelly shoes to the Melissa x Diesel collab
Born in the 1990s, these colorful PVC sandals remained a simple childhood memory for a long time. The turning point comes in 2021, when the Olsen sisters, at the head of The Row, offer a Méduse revisited in PVC fishnet ballerinas. Jelly plastic then leaves the beach to truly enter fashion.
At the same time, the Brazilian brand Melissa has made the jelly silhouette its signature with models made from Melflex®, a vegan and recyclable material. She multiplies cutting-edge collaborations, from Y/Project to Ganni. Opposite her, Diesel, an Italian house worn by Renzo Rosso, is establishing itself as a denim and streetwear reference among Generation Z. Their meeting around a platform sandal seemed almost obvious.
Quantum Platform: the futuristic jelly shoe of summer 2026
From this alchemy was born the Quantum Platform. This glossy PVC platform sandal, with sculptural curves that hug the foot, comes in a very pop palette, from red to yellow, including deep green and smoky gray. The object, launched in a first spring-summer 2024 capsule, returns in force in 2026 at a price of around $175.
On social networks, sandals are an obsession: on TikTok, the hashtag “Melissa Diesel sandals” has thousands of views between unboxings, tests and summer looks. Its platform gives height while remaining easy to wear. The two brands offer this aesthetic in flip-flops with low heels and bags with wavy lines, for a complete Jelly wardrobe.
From jelly manicure to summer looks: how to adopt them
To grasp the jelly aesthetic, a detour to manicures is telling. About jelly nails, Juanita Huber-Millet summarizes: “”, explains Juanita Huber-Millet, quoted by . This color effect which seems to dissolve in water is also found in the shine and transparency of the sandals.
She adds: “”. The same equation works with the Quantum Platform, worn with a loose denim shirt and mini skirt, a bohemian white dress or structured Bermuda shorts. Better to keep clean lines and sober shades to let the jelly shoes and jelly manicure catch the light.
What is the Melissa x Diesel Quantum Platform Sandal?
The Quantum Platform is a glossy PVC platform sandal created by Melissa and Diesel, priced around $175.
Are Quantum Platform jelly shoes comfortable for summer?
Thanks to their stable platform sole, they give height while remaining easy to wear from morning to evening.
How to wear Melissa x Diesel jelly shoes without a childish effect?
We combine them with a loose shirt, a denim mini-skirt, a bohemian dress or Bermuda shorts, with sober colors.
