Tieks ballet flats have been dubbed the most stylish, comfy, versatile flat in the world by thousands of women. For those who know me well, it's no secret that I love my Tieks (okay, truth be told I'm a tad obsessed). I have an entire Instagram account dedicated to these gorgeous shoes and have been a loyal customer for over 6 years. These foldable ballet flats have been my go-to shoe ever since I tried on my first pair in Tiek Blue and I've been hooked ever since. Turquoise and teals are my favorite colors, so initially I was drawn to those beautiful blue soles. However, it was their sheer comfort, coupled with the Tieks team's unparalleled customer service and fan appreciation that are ultimately what won my heart over. 17 pairs later, I think it's safe to say I have a Tieks addiction and will be a Tieks girl for life.
I pretty much wear Tieks daily and people are always asking me about my Tieks. I thought I would answer some of the most asked questions I get about Tieks. If you're wondering if Tieks are for you, then keep reading for the scoop on why myself and countless women around the globe are obsessed with Tieks.
Are Tieks really that comfy?
Yes, Tieks really are that comfy! I can wear them straight out of the box and they don't really need much breaking in, if any at all (depending on the type). They have a non-elasticized, cushion back so they don't dig or cut into my heal and have never given me blisters (unlike countless other flats I've owned throughout the years). I can walk in Tieks for hours and my feet do not hurt or feel sore at the end of the day. They are even my preferred shoe for walking all over NYC! I personally think that the non-skid, rubber soles provide shock absorption and are probably the reason why I can wear them for prolonged periods of time with no discomfort.
I know that everyone's feet are different. What's comfy for some may not always work for others. I myself, along with the many women I've recommend Tieks to, have all been completely satisfied with the fit and comfort. You will just have to try them on and see for yourself. Tieks offers free shipping on all orders, exchanges and returns so there is no risk to try them out. I do recommend wearing them around the house first for a few days to really get a feel for the fit and comfort, as you cannot return them once they've been worn outside.
Are Tieks worth the money?
Absolutely, a thousand times YES! I know Tieks can be a bit pricey, but they are seriously the most comfy shoes I have ever put on my feet and worth every penny! To offset the cost, I usually ask for Tieks gift cards for birthdays and other holidays, then save them up and splurge when I can. Over the last four years I have been replacing all my other flats with Tieks and rarely wear anything else. Tieks are extremely well made with Italian leather and I consider them an investment in my feet. After spending many years working on my feet in the restaurant industry, I have learned that investing in comfy, well made shoes is totally worth it. I used to kick off my shoes the moment I got home with sore, achey feet, but not anymore when I wear my Tieks! They completely mold to your foot after time and become like a second skin. Tieks are so comfy that I even forget I'm wearing them sometimes! I no longer waste money on other flats that are uncomfortable and don't last. I know that with each purchase of Tieks, they will be comfy and will last. My feet thank me and yours will too!
Are Tieks true to size?
Tricky answer is, it depends. Most everyone I know that wears a whole size wears their true size. I do know some people who have wider feet that have sized up. In most situations, I would say buy your true size and you should be fine.
I wear a 1/2 size, should I size up or down?
Tricky answer is again, it depends. I know the Tieks website says to size down in most instances but here is my take. I wear an 8.5 most of the time, sometimes a 9 in boots or sneakers. I have sized up and down in Tieks. While my pair I sized down to an 8 in are comfy now, they did take some serious breaking in and I have found that I prefer the fit and comfort of the 9s better. I also have a slightly wider foot and fallen arches so this may contribute to why I find the 9s more comfy. If you have a more narrow foot, you might find sizing down a little better for you. Like I mentioned earlier, you just have to try them on and see for yourself what works best for your foot. Tieks has an amazing customer service team and will work with you to get the right size. They offer free shipping on all orders, exchanges and returns so it won't cost you anything extra if you need to try another size (as long as you are in the USA)!
Can I try them on before I purchase a pair?
No, Tieks can only be purchased online from their website but they have excellent customer service and orders, exchanges and returns ship free! If they don't fit or you want to try a different pair, they will ship the new pair to you and include a return shipping label for you to send back whichever pair doesn't work out! Makes the hassle worthwhile knowing you won't waste money on shipping (as long as you are in the USA).
Are all Tieks the same and does the fit differ between styles?
No, all Tieks are not the same. Different styles do fit a bit differently, but they have all been comfy for me.
Classic leathers are the most comfy and ready to wear out of the box. The leather is buttery soft and I can wear them with no issues right away. There are two types of leathers in the classics section; one is a shiny distressed burnished leather and the other is full grain matte leather. They are both buttery soft but the full grain matte leather is the softest of the two. The shiny distressed leather will be a tad more snug at first but still requires very little break in time, if any at all. Read the details section for each of the colors on the Tieks website to know which is which.
Patent leathers are more snug out of the box and while they are super comfy, they may rub a little at first and require a few wears before they are 100% comfortable. That said, they still have never given me blisters or been uncomfortable. Even though the classics can be a little more comfy, I sometimes prefer the patents as they are more durable and resistant to scuffs/scratches. I don't have to be as careful with them.
Snake Tieks are a hand painted snake print leather. Since they are hand painted, no two pairs are exactly the same. I have Electric Snake and Copperhead Snake. Both pairs are just as soft as the classics out of the box, but I don't know how the other snakeskin prints compare.
Electric Snake have quickly become a favorite of mine. The bright pops of pink and teal, mixed with shades of purple, black and gold go with so many outfits. I wear them several days a week. They are super comfy, fun and so unique! I just love them!
Copperhead Snake is just as beautiful with shades of gold, copper, blacks and browns. They are a great neutral and just feel fancy. I will say that the wear on this pair has been the most noticeable out of all my Tieks. The snakeskin pattern began to wear on the toe and heal within the first couple months, I'm guessing due to the nature that the leather is hand painted. They are super comfy and gorgeous, but you will need to be a bit more cautious when wearing these and take extra care of them. That said, they are still so pretty and the wear is probably only really noticeable to me anyways.
Silver Screen is a crackled metallic leather and fit more like patents in that they were a little more snug at first and required a little breaking in before they were 100% comfortable. After a few wears though, they were perfect and that shine is to die for! So gorgeous! I always feel so fancy when wearing these.
Leopard print is a suede-like leather dyed and tumbled to create the texture and look. They are not quite as buttery soft as the classics but still super comfy out of the box! And who doesn't love leopard?!?! It's a perfect neutral if you ask me and goes with just about everything!
Vegan Tieks are made from fabric. I only have the Brentwood pair so I can't tell you how the others fit/feel, but I love these! They were more snug out of the box, but after a few weeks they stretched and broke in nicely. It's a great alternative to leather when you want a different look or are looking for vegan options. They are a great neutral color and go with so many outfits. I do feel like I'm a little more careful with them since they are fabric, but I haven't had any issues with fraying at all, I'm just being cautious.
Nude Lace are leather with a thick lace overlay. I was initially hesitant to purchase them thinking they would be too delicate because of the lace. Why did I wait so long? They are way more sturdy than I thought they would be. They are super comfy, fit like classics and are just so dang pretty! I think I might have found my new favorite pair. After a more than a year wearing them, there is very little wear or fraying. Like my vegan pair, I'm a little more cautious when wearing these, but they do hold up really well.
How can I stretch my Tieks that are too snug?
My 8s were super snug at first. I realized this too late and wore them out of the house, so exchanging them was not an option. Another Tieks fanatic, I mean fan lol, advised me to wear them around the house with 1 or 2 pairs of those big fluffy socks for a few days to help speed up the natural stretching process. I even heated them slightly with a blow dryer to aid in the process. While they did stretch, this pair is not quite as comfy as all my other pairs that I sized up to a 9 in. So, if your Tieks are a little snug then this trick might help, but if they are super tight, you probably need the next size up.
Which Tieks do you have?
Tiek Blue was my first pair, then came Matte Black, Sienna Brown patent, Slate Grey Croc patent, Ruby Red patent, Obsidian Black patent, Copperhead Snake, Fuchsia, Leopard, Silver Screen, Clover Green, Brentwood vegan, Lilac, Nude Lace, Blush, Tortoise and Electric Snake (all in that order).
Do you have a favorite pair of Tieks?
This one is a hard one. It's like asking me to pick a favorite between my husband and my son! How do you choose?!? Lol! Tiek Blue will always be my favorite since it was my first pair and my favorite color but I probably wear Fuchsia the most followed by Ruby Red, then Leopard and most recently, Nude Lace. I really do love them all though! I find myself trying to pick out outfits based on which pairs I haven't worn as much so that they all get worn. Believe it or not, I still even have several pairs on my wish list too!
How do you fit your Tieks in that little travel bag?
Getting my Tieks in the little travel bag that comes with them was tricky at first. I start out by folding my Tieks in half and face the soles back to back. Then, I turn the Tieks bag inside out. Starting at the heel, turn the bag right side out over the Tieks. Voila, Tieks ready for travel! See my Instagram video linked in the image below for a visual demo.
Do your Tieks stink after you wear them?
If I'm being honest, yes sometimes. But that's true with any flat. I noticed that if it's hot outside and I'm walking a lot sometimes my feet will sweat and stink a little. If that happens, it takes FOREVER to get that stink out! I don't really like wearing those little sock liners so I tried looking for other options. I really like Sole Socks. They are washable terry cloth shoe liners that fit inside your Tieks. A few other Tieks girls like gekks but I haven't tried them yet.
Kiwi shoe spray is another great way to help keep the funk at bay. Spraying a little in the shoe pre and post wear will work wonders. If your beloved Tieks do start to stink I've found that rubbing the soles with alcohol, putting a baking soda sachet in them and letting them completely dry out helps get rid of the funk. You may have to do this several times depending on how bad the funk is. I've also found that a few drops of my Young Living Purification oil on cotton balls overnight does the trick too!
Why are you so obsessed with tieks?
First and foremost, Tieks are so comfy, stylish and cute! With over 60 different styles/colors, there are so many fun options to choose from. The convenience of the foldable, split sole and accompanying pouch make Tieks perfect for travel or just throwing in your purse. Plus, the quality of these shoes is unmatched! Tieks flats are like the Rolls Royce of shoes and they feel so luxurious when wearing them. After owning Tieks for over 4 years, my first pairs have held up amazingly.
I am also a huge fan of companies with excellent customer service. The Tieks team is second to none when it comes to customer service. They are always friendly, helpful, prompt to reply to customer emails and happy to resolve issues quickly. They interact with their customers on social media, offer fun contests/giveaways and have been known to send out random thank you gifts/treats to their customers. A personalized, handwritten note thanking the purchaser can be found in every order and the packaging is simply beautiful! I can't bear to throw away those pretty blue boxes, handwritten notes and gorgeous flowers, so I decorate with them, lol! Tieks is also very charitable. They support women around the globe through their Gavrieli Foundation. Not many companies these days can match a superior product, with excellent customer service, good stewardship and beautiful branding/packaging, but Tieks does it all!
My love of Tieks has also led me to meet some amazing women online through the Tieks community. Thanks to a mutual love of Tieks, or those who have just been curious about them, I have made some great online friends and insta-buddies! I've learned about essential oils, found great places to eat, found fun things to do on vacation, discovered great blogs and been introduced to other amazing products that I can be found supporting in my Tieks! Tieks girls are the friendliest bunch of women I've come across!
Do you work for Tieks or are you sponsored by them?
Nope! I am just a loyal customer obsessed with their product and customer service. I like to share things that I love and I love Tieks.
I hope you found this post helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions about Tieks and I'll answer them the best I can. Now that you are armed with all this Tieks info, the hardest question left to answer should be, which color are you going to pick!?!? Happy shopping!