Pumps & Pleats: Rainy day jellies

Story and photo by Michèle De Meglio


April showers bring May flowers — and the need for rubber shoes.


Oftentimes, rainstorms compel folks to don their oldest, dingiest pair of boots. While the look isn’t chic, it’s understandable. C’mon, who wants to break out their new leather stilettos in nasty weather?


But trust me, you can stay dry and be cute at the same time! All you need is a great pair of fun and functional rubber shoes.


If you’re looking for something really fab, try high-end designers like Jimmy Choo (currently creating posh crocodile wellies for Hunter Boots) or Kenneth Cole, whose $98 Midnight Rain Rubber Boot has been seen on Ashlee Simpson-Wentz as she parades around Manhattan.


It also pays to check out the goods from Melissa, a Brazilian brand using natural and sustainable rubber to make jazzy jellies.


Epaulet, a boutique in Carroll Gardens, already has Melissa’s spring styles in stock.


The Ashanti Ankle Bootie ($120) in black rubber looks like shiny patent. It’s as sleek as any $500 bootie at Bloomies.


Melissa teamed with Vivienne Westwood to create a classic ankle boot ($130). This one gets some pizazz thanks to three extra large gold buttons down the side.


The $100 Numa + Lovefoxx Sandal is a mix of sweet and eek! The ballerina flat boasts a peep-toe cutout, t-strap and — a black plastic mouse attached to the strap! Imagine you’re in a dirty subway station and a giant rat crawls across your foot. Yeah, that’s what this shoe looks like.


When shopping for jellies, there’s one very important thing to remember — you must make sure they’re super comfortable. Since these shoes are made of rubber, they won’t stretch like leather shoes do. So if they pinch your toes, they’ll keep on pinching unless you get a bigger size. Shop wisely!


Epaulet is located at 231 Smith Street. For hours, call 718-522-3800 or visit www.epauletshop.com.


Michèle De Meglio is a native Brooklynite addicted to all things chic. Check out Pumps & Pleats each week for more adventures as she scours the borough for fab duds and accessories.

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Pumps & Pleats: 21st century jellies are here

Story and photos by Michèle De Meglio

Knee-high rain boots with quirky prints are a surefire way to keep fashionistas dry in a thunderstorm but they’re too big and bulky for summer months. So what should gals wear during an August downpour?

Cheap flip-flops are a good bet but they slip and slide on wet streets, and drenching rhinestone-encrusted leather sandals is out of the question.

Fortunately for style mavens, there’s a chic waterproof shoe that’s perfect for warm weather — jellies.

No, these are not the same plastic jellies you wore as a kid. These bad boys come as sweet ballerina flats, gladiator sandals and even peep-toe pumps.

Even more fortunately for Brooklyn’s ladies, the biggest and best collection of these über cool jellies is located in Carroll Gardens.

Epaulet, a women’s and men’s apparel shop that’s a favorite haunt of “What Not to Wear” fashion guru Stacy London, boasts a jam-packed inventory of Melissa jellies.

These babies are made in Brazil from natural and sustainable rubber and some are designed in collaboration with Vivienne Westwood. You know, she created Carrie’s wedding gown in the “Sex and the City” movie! Even SJP would approve!

Probably the most popular style is the $149 Westwood-Melissa collabo dubbed Lady Dragon. In shades of pearl, salmon and yellow, the sling-back offers a dainty peep-toe cutout and a massive plastic heart in red or black. These pumps are so syrupy sweet that they’ve even been worn by brides on their wedding day.

For an edgier feel, there’s another Westwood design — the $119 three-strap gladiator sandal in rich copper or lovely lilac.

I’m going for the $79 ballerina flat with a zig zag open weave of rad rubber ribbons. It kinda looks like you have spaghetti on your feet. But in a good way!

Now, anyone who has ever worn jellies knows that your feet sometimes sweat against the rubber. But the soles on Melissa shoes feel less like plastic and more like regular footwear inserts, which means a lower possibility of perspiration. Score!

These jellies are so cute and functional that there’s only one thing to say — rain, rain, don’t go away!

Epaulet is located at 231 Smith Street. For hours, call 718-522-3800 or visit www.epauletshop.com.

Michèle De Meglio is a native Brooklynite addicted to all things chic. Check out Pumps & Pleats each week for more adventures as she scours the borough for fab duds and accessories.

Read more...