Just when it seemed we'd exhausted every conceivable '90s revival, fashion found another corner of the decade's wardrobe to revisit.
The era has long influenced everything from handbags to tailoring, fueled in part by the ever-hungry appetite for vintage and archive fashion.Â
While ballet flats and kitten heels have dominated the summer shoe rotation for the past few seasons, 2026 sees us reaching for styles many of us swore we’d never meet again.Â
Jelly sandals, wedge heels, high-vamp pumps, and even the divisive PVC are back on the agenda, reimagined by today's luxury houses with sleeker silhouettes, richer materials, and considerably more polish than their mall-bound predecessors.
The best ‘90s-inspired shoes for summer 2026Â
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Jelly shoes
Chloé, Jelly TPU mulesIt might have been The Row’s jelly sandal that has captivated wardrobes (and algorithms alike), but Chloé is offering its own distinctly grown-up take on the jelly shoe. Ticking off several ‘90s signifiers at once, the sculptural TPU mule comes with a soft square toe and subtle peep-toe cut-out, complete with a knot detail. In this fresh spearmint blue colorway, it leans into Chloé’s signature romantic ease, offering just enough nostalgia without feeling like a throwback costume.
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Thong sandals
Gucci, Vittoria leather thong sandalsIf flip-flops dominated city sidewalks last year, consider the thong-heel sandal their (quite literal) elevated evolution. This leather Gucci pair, with its barely-there strap and delicate kitten heel, transforms a once-humble vacation staple into something sleeker, made for hot summer nights and city wandering alike. We’ve chosen it in a punchy red that does all the work for you, whether it's dressing up a casual co-ord set or slipping on with an easy evening look for when you want something that feels effortless, but still intentional.Â
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Peep toe
Alaïa, Leather peep-toe mulesAnd continuing the toe-exposing theme, peep-toe heels seem to have shed their once-divisive reputation. First breaking out in the ‘90s thanks to the likes of Tom Ford’s era at Gucci, alongside Versace and a certain Carrie Bradshaw endorsement, the silhouette has been edging back into view ever since Miu Miu’s 2023 runway revival. This summer, the peekaboo detail feels less playful, more polished. These leather mules from Alaïa sharpen the idea with a geometric cut, giving the classic peep toe a structured feel.
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High vamp heels
Khaite, Cecilia leather pumpsIf the amount of toes on show in this selection so far has you quietly panicking about booking a pedicure, don’t. Let us reintroduce the high-vamp heel, the more covered-up, minimalist answer to summer’s toe-forward dressing. Spotted across recent runways from Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, and Chanel, the silhouette isn’t strictly a ‘90s invention, but it became a defining part of the decade’s clean-lined uniform – think Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Calvin Klein minimalism. This Khaite pair taps neatly into that mood, with its skinny mini heel giving it a sleeker edge.
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Slim wedge heels
The Attico, Cheope patent leather slingback wedgesThe slim wedge heel offers an easier-to-walk-in take on after-dark dressing, and brings a distinctly ‘90s energy back into focus, when sculptural wedges were a key part of the minimalist uniform at houses like Prada and Gucci. The Attico’s Cheope slingbacks capture that perfectly, featuring a sharply pointed toe balanced with a sculptural wedge heel that feels almost architectural in its curve.
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Transparent
Aeyde, Suzanne leather-trimmed mesh sandalsFrom interiors to technology to fashion, the ‘90s had a clear obsession with all things PVC. While we’re not quite ready to step back into full perspex footwear just yet, the transparent trend is still firmly in the conversation. Aeyde’s Suzanne sandals channel that minimalist spirit, nodding to the decade’s obsession with sheer detailing but, if it taught us anything, also offering some much-needed air circulation. Finished with leather-trimmed mesh straps and set on a low wedge, it’s barely-there dressing with just enough structure to work well beyond the beach.
