Puddle Jumper

Jun 17, 2008 @ 3:55pm

melissa rubber shoes.jpg This summer has introduced an interesting fashion predicament:

Half the day we're sweltering, the other half we're dodging sudden downpour. Still if we can't find a good store to duck in to, or we just have somewhere to be, we wind up sloshing down the street anyway and our new ballet flats are the worse for it. Leather sandals are just as perilous and any flip flop has that annoying habit of splashing NYC puddle water on to the back of our calves. But it's definitely too hot for rain boots, so what's a girl to wear?

Enter the Melissa 'sweet lips' flat, the answer to this sticky situation. The shoe is made from rubber so you don't have to worry about them getting ruined when you're splashing down the street. And when the sun does actually come out, the flat is equally appropriate for warm weather. The bonus? All of Melissa's shoes are made with 100% recyclable material.

-- HAYLEY PHELAN

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 4:02PM

yeah but rubber shoes make for smelly feet.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 4:15PM

Not to mention a rubber ankle strap? Ow. Talk about a blister.

I think we had a debate about this re: J.Crew's rubber ballet flats... and my take is that rubber isn't breathable.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 4:33PM

very cute! though i look stumpy with black ankle straps if they fall too high...

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 4:58PM

i defo just wear croc ballet flats.
they're cheap and comfy.

(but they do squeak when you walk)

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 5:28PM

Melissa shoes smell like bubble gum!! No smelly feet.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 5:29PM

Acutally, I have these in blue and they're super comfy.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 5:41PM

I have a couple different pairs of Melissa shoes and they are way better than other jelly shoes I have worn. I am not sure why, but they seem to breathe quite a bit better.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 5:48PM

um UGLY?

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 6:30PM

Once they get wet they're a blister on ever side of your foot waiting to happen. ouchhh

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 7:18PM

but they are sooo cute
AND I was expecting some super over prized item like %99.7 of everything on ashionista and this .. wasn't (although still more than what I'd pay for a "rainy day flat" it is somewhat more realistic, but not enough)
$19.99 at target please? sold.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 7:26PM

Yes...too many debates about rubber/jelly shoes on Fashionista to really consider these shoes as wearable.

posted by etoilee8

Jun 17, 2008 7:34PM

I love my Melissa shoes. I don't have this pair but I have another pair of rubber ones and I've been wearing them tons this summer. They really don't make your feet smell that bad. No worse than any other pair of shoes in the sumer. ..

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 8:37PM

I have the Marc Jacobs ballet jelly shoes. I LOVE them. I actually walked around lower Manhattan with a friend in them and no blisters. Definitely breathable. I haven't tried the Melissa ones, but I'm tempted. But the plastic on my MJ ones are extremely soft but the shape still holds really well. Are the Melissa ones like that?
(I've tried Target jelly shoes..cheap and painful, but also made in China with low quality materials..now I want to know where the Melissa ones are made)

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 9:42PM

cute, not a fan of the holes but i miss jellies! or i'm thinking patent leather sperry topsiders as another all-weather summer shoe

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 10:06PM

I found them very soft and moveable. They don't get misshaped or smelly either.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 10:07PM

this is a fugly shoe

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 10:26PM

i still have some mellissa' from a few yrs ago, and i always rock dem or my jellies in the rain. they're breathable, unique, and cute.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 11:14PM

i have a pair of black opaque jelly flats from old navy (sale for 5 bucks) they have a bunch of tiny holes so they breathe really well... and they sound really ugly but they actually aren't. i've had them for two years and they're my number one flats... more comfy than converse for lots of walking.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 11:55PM

eww... ankle straps aka cankle-making stumpy-leg shoes

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 12:38AM

I thought the same thing as the post, that it is a great shoe to have for the summer with sudden thunderstorms. I got the one called Melissa Triton Desire http://www.thegreenloop.com/Melissa_Shoes_Desire_Triton_p/melissashoes-desiretriton.htm (also available at Creatures of Comforts and Sodafine), it is much cuter and the colors are delicious.

I haven't tried it in the thunderstorm yet but I have walked around in it, it already has some embedded smell in it so it cancels out the potential stink factor, but the rubber does hurt my skin a bit.

What has worked perfectly so far is the Stella McCartney for Adidas mesh ballet flat that they sold last year. I've worn them through the rains in New York and it was ok, it is lovely, they also absorb the smell so the stink factor is resolved, and it looks chic rain or sun.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 12:42AM

I have a pair of Marc Jacobs jelly flats and I am in love with them. They're perfect as the understated summer shoe.

posted by xxi

Jun 18, 2008 1:25AM

my fendi jellies >>>>> these. they look too awkward and faux croc like.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 12:14PM

i just bought a pair of grendha jellies. the pop flock have this fuzzy velour finish so they look nice too. and they're vegan. for those who care. i don't.

posted by dumbbrunette5

Jun 19, 2008 7:37AM

omg that sounds like thailand (except over here we get monsoon season, with big tropical raindrops..way worse than new york rain). last summer i ended up completely trashing a pair of satin flats when the rain came crashing down on me out of absolutely nowhere (and then disapeared 15 minutes later) so i ordered a pair of flats from urban outfitters online that are made of polyurethane. they are super comfortable and dry out nicely (and dont smell funny when they are wet)