Cheryl Shops

Once upon a time, I used to stomp around Manhattan in four-inch heels all day long and well into the night. I would silently judge people who wore "commuting shoes," e.g. flats they kept in their tote bag for the sole purpose of getting from point A to B. But now, thanks to a combination of aging and lifestyle changes (working from home and wearing slippers all day), I am a flats girl. Sure, I'll wear a low heel on occasion—to a party or for a dressy night out—but when it comes to my everyday shoes, I'm all about sneakers, loafers, Mary Janes, and, of course, ballet flats. When Tieks reached out and asked if I'd like to try a pair of their signature shoes, I jumped at the chance—the brand has a strong cult following, which is usually a good sign of a well-made product. While Tieks provided me with a pair of ballet flats free of charge, the following are my own honest and unfiltered opinions. 

A little about Tieks

I first heard about Tieks by Gavrieli at Fashion Week in New York, back in the Bryant Park days, so we're talking probably 15 years ago. I believe it was around the last time that ballet flats were incredibly popular—think Gossip Girl days—and I remember they leaned into the foldability/portability angle, which was clever for targeting a bunch of fashion people who've been running around the city and standing (in lines, in parties, at shows) for a week straight. Not a lot has changed since then: the ballet flats still have a clean design with a unique turquoise-colored split sole (more on that later). They now come in over 60 different colors and patterns (including some vegan textiles), as well as kids' sizes. What blows my mind is that this company literally makes one product—there is only one shoe design!—but does it so well, they have a thriving business with super-loyal customers. 

The Tieks ballet flat

The shoe itself is very minimal by design, with no embellishments other than a turquoise strip along the heel. Elastic runs along the edges, except at the back, which thankfully has a cushion, so your achilles doesn't get crushed. Except for the vegan options, the uppers are made from a single piece of leather; the insole is hand-stitched leather with light foam cushioning, and the midsole is also leather—something you don't usually see. The most unique feature of Tieks, of course, is the bright turquoise blue split sole, which is super flexible and allows for the shoe to be folded in half. Each pair comes with a black compression pouch, which is roughly the length of your palm and lets you store your flats compactly (mine weigh 12 ounces in the pouch), as well as a turquoise folding tote where you can stash your other, less comfortable shoes when it's time to change into your Tieks. The flats come in all manner of colors and patterns, from classic solids to textured animal prints and metallics; I went with Rose Gold Glam from the Old Hollywood collection. Prices range from $185 for the solid-colored classic and vegan styles, and can run up to $345 for the more intricate printed styles. All shoes are available in whole sizes 5–13(!). 

My honest review

I will admit, I have not had positive experiences with elastic-edged shoes, so I approached these with a bit of trepidation. The fit did feel a bit snug at first—I am usually an 8.5 and sized down to an 8 based on the guidance on the website—but as soon as I walked around outside for awhile, I found the leather softened and molded to my feet very comfortably. I was also worried that they'd slip off (another elastic problem), especially in light of how shallow the toe box is cut, but the shoe stayed put, and as a bonus, was incredibly comfortable on my bunion (which was another thing I was worried about). The padding at the heel is a really nice touch—as someone with narrow heels, this is usually where I experience the most slippage or rubbing, but here it feels cushiony and supportive. In terms of footbed comfort, ballet flats are notorious for lacking proper arch support; while these aren't nearly as comfortable as a pair of sneakers, they're much more supportive than most other ballet flats out there. I wore mine for several hours at a time—usually while walking around—and while I don't feel that they have enough all-day comfort for, say, a trip to Europe where you're doing 20,000 steps a day, they're fine for running errands, going out to dinner, commuting, etc. As for the split sole, it's not as weird as I thought it was going to be; there definitely is some flexibility and freedom of movement that you don't get in a lot of other shoes. However, I am not a big fan of the bright turquoise; I know it's a very IYKYK brand signature, but it's on literally every pair. It's not super visible from above, but it definitely is from the side, and as someone who tends to stay away from bright colors, I found it to be a little jarring. Overall, the unique foldable design makes these a good pair to have on hand for commuting or emergencies; the supportive fit and high-end materials make these one of the more comfortable ballet flats on the market. And when it comes to colorways, you could find a pair to match literally anything—as long as you're ok with the bright turquoise sole. 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Athleta Alight jacket | Vince sweater (similar here) | Levi's 501 jeans | Balenciaga city bag (current version) | Tieks ballet flats (c/o)