There’s a bag that looks like the Birkin—except it is made entirely of soft translucent PVC, comes in every pastel imaginable and costs a fraction of the price. The jelly ‘firkin’ took over TikTok practically overnight; its demand surging in a single week as videos after videos of unboxings, styling posts and general adoration floods our feeds. Equal parts nostalgic and screaming with youthful fervour, the ‘firkin’ is now one of the most covetable accessories of the season.
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This summer sees the resurgence of a well-loved texture—one that is translucent, tactile and a little wobbly. The Y2K wave of the ‘firkin’ might have brought it back through the door, but the trend runs much deeper than one viral bag. The jelly trend actually traces back to the ’90s, when plastic accessories first had their big cultural moment. You might even remember wearing those squeaky PVC shoes as a kid. Over the years, Melissa collaborations turned the humble plastic shoe into something genuinely sought after, while translucent mules and platforms were spotted on the most-followed feet in fashion. Everyone, from Kylie Jenner to Blackpink’s Lisa, was found sporting translucent footwear pieces in past seasons.
No longer just a niche, nostalgic aesthetic in 2026, jelly textures have been sprouting across the board, from independent labels and high street brands like Melissa taking the softer, surreal route through its collaboration with Susan Fang bringing jelly into floral ballet flats and platforms, to Jacquemus and Chloé pushing the material into mules, kitten heels and sculptural silhouettes. Long before TikTok rediscovered jelly, designers were already experimenting with translucent textures and glossy finishes. Genny explored the look in its spring/summer 2015 collection, whilst Loewe’s spring/summer 2026 runway offered a more recent reminder of fashion’s ongoing fascination with translucent footwear. The result is a material that now feels as at home on the runway as it does on the pavement.
After years of quiet luxury and its deliberately muted palette, jelly-core is finally having its long-overdue comeback. Think Rockfish jelly sandals squeaking down sun-drenched streets. BadBlue bags catching the light at every angle. Resin rings from Swarovski stacked four to a finger. There’s an irresistible energy to it all: tactile, playful, and completely unapologetic. Below, discover the Vogue-approved pieces for you to cop the look. Welcome to jelly girl summer.
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Rockfish Weatherwear Glair Platform Fisherman sandals, $71
Available at Rockfish Weatherwear.
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Bottega Veneta Small Drop earrings, $1220
Available at Bottega Veneta.
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Kurt Geiger Jelly Kensington Crystal bag, $304
Available at Kurt Geiger.
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Gentle Monster R.E.A.T PC5 sunglasses, $428
Available at Gentle Monster.
