Simon: Hi Lucas, what the hell have you got on your feet?
Lucas: These are jellies, jelly sandals.
Sounds like a weird children’s sweet. What are they made of?
Plastic, but they’re actually a very traditional shoe, you should like them.
Traditional? Like how old?
The company that made these started in 1946, so not far off your precious 1930s style and all that jazz. They’re a French company called Méduse, and at the time people were using plastic as an alternative to leather because it was scarce after the Second World War.
So people wore these instead?
Well they were a beach shoe, a leisure thing. They were called sun sandals or sunchanvre. There were lots of PVC sandals but this model became famous and it was quite distinctive - the braided straps, the spiked sole.
When did you first wear them?
They’re a nostalgic thing for me because I was given them to wear on holiday in France when I was growing up. They were cheap and easy and good for kids, and every beach shop sold them.
I think that’s one reason they’ve become popular again recently - Ghiaia now sell them for example, and brands like The Row have made them fashionable for women again too.
Did they have waves of popularity in the past?
Oh yes, there was a thing in 1960s, and in the 1980s. In the US apparently they became popular in the 1980s after large numbers were imported from Brazil. The Dude wears them in The Big Lebowski, which is a pretty strong endorsement. There's even a brand that specifically sells clear ones in order to look like him.
But you like these from Méduse?
Yeah it took me ages to find a good brand when I was looking a few years ago, but a friend turned me onto Méduse. Other people make them - Plasticana has them for example, and you see those in quite a few shops.
But Méduse has a really big range and always seems to have sizes. They make a lot of things in France but these are made in Morocco, and they’re only €18.
Eighteen euros!! I could buy 819 pairs for the price of a Liverano coat.
Well quite.
So when do you wear these?
On a pebbly beach they’re very practical. It’s a traditional sea shoe basically - you can wade in across all those nasty stones.
Yeah that makes sense, we go to those types of beaches in Portugal, particularly river beaches. And the other sea/beach shoes look a little silly. But where else? That’s pretty niche even if they are only €18.
Well to Pitti obviously, but that was just to make people angry.
You do like doing that.
I really do.
Where else?
Basically on holiday where other people might wear sandals. I don’t like flip-flops, I like something that stays on my feet. And the advantage of the plastic is that I can get them wet, they’re hardy, much more so than a leather sandal or an espadrille.
And with anything smarter?
Occasionally - as with the vintage Armani trousers (pictured top). But that's the exception. Though if I do wear them to dinner on holiday I feel more dressed up than someone in flip-flops, and probably in open-toed sandals as well.
They're also a nice bit of colour - a fun accessory. And they’re cheap so you can have more than one.
What colours do you have?
I have navy and this colour, hemp.
Why does it look like there’s stuff floating in them?
That’s the hemp (chanvre), it’s one of the original makes and it has a nice, natural-looking quality to it.
It does, you’re right, I’m starting to be convinced.
Well, you should also know that the PVC is recycled, and it’s phthalate-free, which is the thing people worry about from a health point of view. PVC is not a great material, so it's nice to get a better version if you're going to wear them.
That does sound better. Are they comfortable?
Certainly compared to other plastic shoes or flip-flops I’ve found. They have zero support, your foot just sinks in, so when I wore them to Pitti my feet ached at the end of the day. But they’re not designed for 20,000 steps on cobbles. Worn as intended, I’ve always found them comfortable. I’ve never had blisters from them, which is people’s number-one fear.
I agree. I like the style now, particularly that vintage, 1960s feel. I can see some more intricate second-hand ones on etsy as well.
Great, so you’re going to get some?
No, but I don’t hate them on you any more.
Fair enough.
Above: Ghiaia shoes and styling. Other clothes shown:
- Permanent Style linen overshirt in dark olive (size XL)
- Thom Sweeney navy knitted T-shirt
- Vintage Ralph Lauren shorts, 'Tyler' model
- Moscot sunglasses, Lemtosh model with Cliptosh clip-ons
- Vintage Armani striped suit
Hi Lucas,
I also wore these as a child (and I’m nearly 70!) and have worn them on and off over the years. My children have worn versions as have my grandchildren for holiday beachwear.
I think they look cool – a good example of form and function – and as shown above ‘high low’ dressing. If nothing else worth wearing just to annoy some people.
Simon – you really do need to get with the programme!
Thanks for this bit of nostalgia.
Hi Stephen
Totally agree, they are classic in design and super practical, and I agree about the high low dressing! Maybe I will buy him a pair and see if I can get him in them!
I like the Q&A approach, it gives the article a fairly refreshing, tongue-in-cheek feel. One small point of order – despite my love of The Big Lebowski, I don’t believe anything The Dude says or does should be considered “an endorsement”.
Hi Alex,
Agreed, it was more a representation of the cultural significance rather than an endorsement from our end, I would stick with Meduse if I was you!
Glad you enjoyed the article!
Yeah, well, you know, that’s just like, uh, your opinion, man.
Haha! No bad vibes here! This is a very complicated case you know lotta ins, lotta outs lotta what-have-yous
“Well to Pitti obviously, but that was just to make people angry. “
Funny – that made me laugh!
Turned out to be a good decision as there was heavy rain and all those delicate leather loafers got trashed but the jellies prevailed!
Yes , we need more of Lucas !
Simon, have you ever gauged what kind of effect you have when you review products ?
I’m sure they’ll be a rush for Jelly Sandals now .
Great start to the PS week .
Cheers Robin. Sometimes yes, though probably not as much as we should
Love this Lucas. I am a recent adopter of the Keen Uneek – a gorpier equivalent which the instagram fashion girlies have been rocking for some time and most of my friends hate. They are incredibly comfortable and swishing around in them and a wafty shirt feels very good when its 25 degrees plus
Hey Alex,
Yes I’ve had a couple of pair of uneeks! They are comfy sandals and great for travelling as they have that slightly more trainer like quality. So have even worn them to the hotel gym in a pinch. Although I bought some bedrock sandals this summer for my holidays in Greece and even though they are slightly different more of a flip flop style sandal I think I prefer the barefoot nature!
+1 on Meduse. I think PS has written previously about the practicality of sandals with closed toe (protection from toe stubbing, hides unsightly toe nails) and open fisherman design (wind flow keeps your feet cool). The rubber adds the additional benefit of being amphibious.
We spend summers in Greece with pebbly beaches and I needed something more practical than espadrilles which I was always afraid of getting wet, picking up dust and they can stink out in the heat. I bought a pair from sunjellies.com. They very much fit the bill and I ended up wearing them for the whole day; around the house, down at the beach, quick dip, driving the car, around town for grocery run, out for lunch. You put them on and never think twice. I did daw the line at dinner out as I also had a pair of deck shoes with me.
I would say the only issue is the choice of colours. The jellies I get for my young kids (Liewood) have infinitely better colours. I got “denim” for me, clear for my wife. So that’s a business opportunity for someone enterprising: you could charge triple by making them in sage, teal, cornflower, etc!
This is exactly the use case I think off as well!
So from what I’m hearing you want a Meduse X PS shop collab?!
I’m already saving up for that!!
Absolutely! Will go viral in summer 2026!
Oh wow! I had those as a child but I’d forgotten about them. Thanks for the nostalgic reminder but I don’t think I’ll be reliving the experience anytime soon.
Ha! No problem, hopefully you enjoyed the article and the nostalgia anyway!
Great Article! Will consider them myself now for the next vacation…
Next one up please: Review of the Ghiaia Fishermans Sandals;)
Excellent! We actually saw these close up in Paris and I think Simon has an article about Ghiaia which may include something about the sandals.
Have red that article a few times. Did you try them on or know anything about sizing?
Hi Amon
I haven’t tried them as the sample wasn;t my size, but they looked nice! Sorry I don’t have more info.
Just wanted to say that the interview style made this a super fun read. Loved it!
Thanks Phil! Yes we thought it was the best way to broach a potentially controversial topic!
I remember these from the 80s. What i remember the most is how terrible them smelled at the end of a season of wearing. Has that been alleviated or are these still a fairly short-term proposition?
I haven’t noticed that yet but maybe I should check with my wife incase she has! Just kidding it seems fine. But they definitely aren’t a long term proposition
I had no issues with odour at 2 weeks of daily wear in hot summer. Would scrubbing with soap help?
Half-way through this post, I actually wondered if it was a early (or late) Aprils first joke – the Liverano comment WAS funny though. I do see the fun in wearing something like this at Pitti, as the idea of a dozen peacocks with too many accessories and overly sculptured beards standing around in a gaggle talking about “what Lucas was wearing” is humorous (and I’m almost certain that it’s how most of the world see us anyway).
But still, I can’t get away from the thought that if cheap plastic sandals which are “traditionally beachwear” and “practical for kids” are considered an expression of permanent style, the concept is getting very wide indeed…
I think it is a natural thought, it definitely “stretches” the concept of Permanent Style but in a lot of ways it is a classic design and have been worn by stylish people throughout history, so we thought it was a topic worthy of discussion. Especially given their price point it give us an opportunity to talk about something (one of us) enjoys but is much more accessible for the reader! The pictures here are a bit of a stretch as well as we shot in central London, and I don’t often wear them in that context. Mainly on the beach or beach adjacent. I hope you enjoyed the article anyway!
I agree with you Sams that Jellies should not necessarily be considered “permanent style” for city wear especially for places like London or Berlin.
Forgive me, because to be honest I have forgotten what the definition of permanent style is. However, for me, PS is just shorthand for looking good, composed, considered, and appropriate for the setting (even if in a rebellious “ivy” way). With this personal shorthand in mind, jellies do fit in to that rebellious while still considered fit, in Lisbon in the summer, Miami in 9 months of the year, and even landlocked metropolises in the summer. Of course, even in strictest consideration they seem to fit to PS at any beach or resort when it’s warm out.
In total I do agree with you that this could be considered a “wide” interpretation of PS. All I’m saying is that it is an appropriately wide one (very dependent on setting, like much of life 😉)
In case anyone wants it, I talked about what I saw ‘permanent style’ as in the second half of this post
This exchange made me laugh:
Great, so you’re going to get some?
No, but I don’t hate them on you any more.
Fair enough.
Give it 6 months 😉
An excellent read but at the same time possibly the most hideous item of footwear I’ve ever seen. Worse than crocs and they take some beating! Love your style of writing though Lucas. Manish might need to up his game!
Ha thank you! But worse than crocs?!?! (disclaimer I also have numerous pairs of crocs)
Can’t believe it’s this far down the comments before someone made the comparison to crocs. I had the exact opposite thought though – I hate them on principle (they’re disposable plastic tat, let’s face it. Did you carry your hand luggage in a supermarket bag for life?) but at least they’re not as utterly hideous as crocs
Great article! It’s refreshing to read about these clothing items with interesting stories. It would be good an article about menorquinas, hand made in Menorca and a stylish alternative between flip flops and designer sandals
Yes! I love my Menorca sandals, definitely more elegant than a flip flop but also very easy to slip on, it is only an issue that they are leather so not as resilient to a wet foot.
Worn to clubs in the early 80s by Soul Boys in London/Essex. So they do have some British Subcultural cred.
I had these as a child, to wear on the pebble beaches and while wading in the Ardêche river. Absolutely hated them back then, so uncomfortable.
Actually, I like these, I may try them. But for very limitied purposes because it is important to be careful with sandals — one purpose of shoes is to protect your feet. A couple of examples. In Delhi in Connaught Place market, it is an annoying habit for someone to wet feces on your shoes and then tell you about so you will pay them to clean your shoes. That would be very bad with sandals. Walking in another city one evening, I was greatly disturbed to realize that a rat was on my shoe and trying to get under the cuff of my trousers to climb up my leg.
Very fun and light piece, thanks Lucas! In Spain they call them “cangrejeras”, crab fisherman shoes. I used to wear them as a child on rocky coves in Mallorca. I remember the metal buckle was always rusted by the end of the summer. I hated them back then, and I think I still do…
Haha! Fair enough!
No. Just no.
I’m also worried you’re giving Drake’s ideas — we’ll probably see a £450 version of these soon, if not an entire capsule: color-blocked fleece, Elmer mittens, the whole look.
Love the quick back and forth banter here. Fun, yet, educational.
Hi Lucas,
plastic sandals also had a revival in the UK during the mid-70s – about the time of the King’s Rd shops such as Acme Attractions, Westwood & McLaren’s Let it Rock/Sex, Robot Shoes, Johnson’s in Kensington Mkt etc. (Possibly before punk took off or maybe a crossover from early punk?) Can’t remember how long it lasted but certainly I remember wearing natural/transparent plastic sandals, with fluorescent socks. I bought mine in Benidorm in ’75 if I remember correctly! Still great for the beach, but probably not something I’d wear about town now. Ahh, the days when fashion was fun and cheap!
I really enjoyed this post. I have a pair of slip on sandals that look vaguely like leather from a distance but are plastic, I inherited them from my grandfather, he wore them on holidays throughout his lifetime and I’ve worn them now on my own holidays for some forty years, they are an elegant shape in a dark brown so they have never been out of fashion (at least that’s what I tell myself), are very comfortable, incredibly practical and don’t look their age (I assume they are at least sixty). Has a pair of plastic sandals just epitomised “permanent style”? Chortle!
Really nice piece Lucas and Simon!
Lucas, you’ve brought up bad memories I’m afraid. I recall people wearing these when I was a child on holiday in Cyprus during the 1980’s. I even remember my parents trying to get me to wear them. I hated them then and I hate them now . . . but it was an interesting and nostalgic read nonetheless, thank you.
Hi! The Medusas is true to size?
Thanks.
My American family members insist these are for women – any thoughts?
Hello, they seem to be sized more like trainers than dress shoes. From their size chart it seems that I’d need to get size 44, while normally I’m on 42,5 on dress shoes. Is that your experience, too? Thanks!