If you have been considering a pair of Tieks shoes but are resistant because of the high price tag, I set out to find out, are Tieks worth the price?
If you’re unfamiliar with Tieks, this family owned company has been touted as the most versatile and comfortable designer ballerina flat makers in the world. Tieks’ goal was to take the iconic ballerina flat and adapt it for the modern woman. The flexible shoes with the blue soles and back strip (which seems more like a status symbol) are made of Italian leather and can be folded and carried in a purse and worn everyday. A pair of Tieks takes three days and 150 steps to make, which includes hand stitching. The brand took off when Oprah was spotted wearing them and then featured the company in her magazine. The rest, as they say, is history.
Upon delivery of my Tieks I noted the incredible packaging which, while nice, also seemed unnecessary. Sure, it was a nice touch (and I am a packaging snob), but if packaging has anything to do with the final cost of these shoes it hardly seems worth it. Inside a tiny blue box that was wrapped in a lime green bow I found my new Tieks folded along with shoe bags for transport. Once I got my shoes out of the box, which wasn’t easy, I unfolded them and tried them on. A few walks around my apartment was not enough to get a real sense of fit and I waited for the first hint of a warm day to wear them outdoors.
I am a tough customer when it comes to shoes. I am a New Yorker and I spend a lot of time on my feet as a stylist. I enjoy ballerina flats but know that after a few hours I am not happy. Often my heels hurt, my knees and hips start to ache and I feel like I’ve been walking barefoot all day. I know that, generally speaking, ballerina flats aren’t as good for the feet. While they are flat, the human foot needs more support and a slight heel to be healthy. Ask any podiatrist and he’ll tell you that a ballerina flat can be tough on the feet and potentially just as bad for you as a pair of heels. Yet, one thing I will say about Tieks ballerina flats is that the blue soles, that you will find on the bottom of every pair, are for more than just looking pretty. These blue soles felt like little shock absorbers that cushioned my heels from the hard pavement. After spending 6 hours in them, while I did notice a pang of discomfort by the end of the day, it was nothing compared to how I’ve felt in other flats that I have worn for the same amount of time. Do I think this feature is worth $175 and higher? I don’t know. Yet, one thing I did wonder was why no other ballerina flat company has thought to put this much bouncy cushion on the bottoms of their shoes. Thumbs up to Tieks for this.
However, at such a high price point I think Tieks sets themselves up for a huge expectation that seems like a lot of pressure. I didn’t feel like my feet had died and gone to heaven when I put them on. They were comfortable ballerina flats, that’s it. In fact, while the soles were comfortable I have found the elastic to be slightly uncomfortable on the instep of my one foot. I don’t blame Tieks for this, although I’ve read about a lot of people complaining about this, and I am hoping that, in time, the elastic will be more forgiving on my foot.
My review is this: Will I grab these shoes on a regular basis? Yes. Would I spend $275 for them? No, not in a million years. Sure, in the world of ballerina flats it is quite possible that Tieks are among the most comfortable pair you can purchase, no doubt about it. Yet, you also have to consider the playing field– few ballerina flats aren’t all that comfortable and good for the feet to begin with. So the question that remains is if the comfort is worth the price that the company is selling it for? Unfortunately there is no black and white answer to this, it’s just too subjective. For some people dropping this much money on a pair of shoes is nothing and for others (i.e. most people) the price of Tieks is out of the realm of reality. If you’re considering a a pair of these but would have to save up for a pair or go into debt to own them they’re not worth it. Seriously, the world will not end and your feet will forgive you if you pass these shoes by. If you’re someone who wants to invest and are on somewhat of a limited budget then I suggest the most versatile pair you can buy, a pair that will get you a lot of wear, so you can justify the cost by getting a lot of use from them.
The good news is that Tieks has an excellent return policy and offer a full refund plus the cost of shipping them back. So if you’ve been afraid to pull the Tieks trigger just know that if you don’t like them the company makes it super easy to return.
Do you own a pair of Tieks or have you been considering a pair? I’d love to hear what you think.
For more information and to check out Tieks further, visit Tieks.com.
