Smartly Wed reviews: Tieks

If you’re looking for a pair of flats for your wedding, today’s post is perfect for you! We’re talking all about Tieks – our thoughts on the pairs we’ve had for ages, plus the new ones I’ve purchased to wear at my wedding reception. Be sure to check out our review of Yosi Samra bridal flats, as well – found here – in which we dive into the Tieks vs. Yosi Samra comparisons.

By my count, there are currently 57 different colors available in a variety of fabrics (check out the full collection in their “Boutiek”), meaning there’s bound to be one that goes with your dress, your color scheme, or whatever else you have in mind!

All Tieks have a leather midsole with “Tiek blue” rubber split soles (to make it easy to fold them in half), plus a strip of Tiek blue leather on the heel. I’ve seen people liken Tiek blue to Tiffany blue, and while they’re definitely similar, Tiek blue is more of a turquoise (brighter and darker), as you can see below.

I love that Tieks sorts customers’ Instagram photos by color on their site, which allows you to see how other people have worn a particular color of Tieks when you go to the page for that item.

Pricing and the Tieks wedding promotion

A pair of Tieks will set you back at least $175 for the standard matte leather (as well as the vegan collection), going up to $185 for metallic gold and pewter, $195 for the range of patent leathers, and $235-295 for the printed and foiled pairs (there are also, currently, two pairs at $345 – one that’s hand-painted and one that’s iridescent).

I purchased my first two pairs (matte black and cardinal red) in early 2012 with a 30% off promo code, but it’s been years since I’ve seen any kind of promotion or sale, even around the holidays.

If you’re looking to buy Tieks for your bridal party, you should contact their wedding specialists. When I reached out to ask about buying Tieks for my wedding, I was told that I could get 20% off, plus a free pair for myself (valued up to $200), but would need to buy four pairs in the same color. If you have at least four people for whom you’d be buying, this could be a great option, though with only one bridesmaid, it wasn’t going to work for me.

Shipping (USPS) is free and Tieks will accept any unworn pairs at any time for a refund (this used to be a 30-day return, but changed recently), with free return shipping.

Tieks sizing

Tieks come in full sizes only, 5-13. The company recommends sizing down if you wear a half size, unless you’d typically size up or if you have a wide foot. I’m a pretty true size 7 with a wide-ish foot, and wear a 7 in Tieks without issue. Both of my pairs stretched comfortably to my feet after a few wears.

If you’re not sure what size to buy, check out their size guide or contact customer service; I’ve received prompt responses from them whenever I’ve e-mailed.

Tieks comfort and durability

Once Oprah named Tieks one of her favorite things, everyone had to have a pair, and then they all raved about how amazingly comfortable they were; you might’ve thought you were about to walk on clouds. They are pretty comfortable, but they’re not that comfortable – I mean, they are ballet flats with fairly minimal padding. Both of my pairs are perfectly comfortable for a day of work, but I don’t like to wear them for a full day of walking around. Whenever I do, the leather rubs enough over the course of the day that I end up with sore areas on the balls of my feet, and sometimes blisters, too.

I wear my black Tieks probably twice a week, and the red maybe once per week. They’re definitely starting to show their age: Both pairs are pretty scuffed at the heel, and the lining in the black pair has started to crack and peel away. The red pair hasn’t, but, as noted, I probably wear the black twice as often. Both pairs need to have the rubber heel area built back up, but I haven’t found a place that can do this and reasonably match it to the Tieks blue (I reached out to Tieks customer service, but they didn’t have suggestions as to where I could get any of these things fixed, besides using saddle soap on the scuffs – on my to-do list!)

Steph’s take on her Tieks (matte black and burgundy), which she’s had for about two years:

As an elementary teacher, I spend anywhere from 6-8 hours/day on my feet, so practical, comfortable, and lightweight shoes are a must. My Tieks are a lifesaver for teaching – they give enough support and I don’t feel like I need to get them off at the end of the day. I think they’re as comfortable as everyone says, but I’m not walking around in them a ton; I’m mostly standing and walking around a school.

Pinterest often displays Tieks ads when I’m searching for teaching ideas, so many of my colleagues have noticed the signature Tiek blue leather on the heel and soles and asked if they’re worth the cost. My answer is always yes – with the amount I wear them (probably 2-3 times a week for teaching) and their durability, I would recommend them to anyone. Leopard print are on my Christmas list already!

(I guess I know what I’m getting her for Christmas…)

My wedding Tieks

I knew I’d want to change into some comfy flats after our ceremony and thought Tieks would be a perfect solution. The Tiek blue patent ($195) would make a perfect something blue, and I probably would’ve ordered them if they came in a matte leather rather than just the patent. Alas, they do not, so I opted to try two sparkly options, Rose Gold Glam ($235) and Lovestruck ($265).

Tieks are packaged in a Tiek blue box with a fabric flower (Tieks gift cards come in a mini version of this box with a smaller flower, which is pretty cute). The box is sturdy and the lid fits snugly on the bottom. I’m a fan of the packaging, as it needs no help to be suitable for gift-giving (i.e. if you’re going to gift these to bridesmaids on the morning of your wedding, or if someone wants to gift a pair to a bride!) They’re also sent with a sparkly handwritten thank you card, which is always a nice touch.

Inside the box, you’ll also find a small, stretchy black pouch that contains a foldable carry bag. The bag folds down into a small black bag, but is Tiek blue when unfolded. My original Tieks also had a set of pant clips in this pouch, but the new ones did not, so I’m not sure when that changed.

Now, for the shoes themselves – I thought the Lovestruck and Rose Gold Glam looked very similar online (which is why I ordered both to see in person), but they definitely weren’t the same color. The Rose Gold Glam (right) is more of a copper color and is shinier and more metallic-looking than the Lovestruck (left), which is subtler but really beautiful in person.

The Lovestruck is what I’d consider more of a true rose gold, with purple and blue shimmery elements. They do hold this folded shape for a while, which can make storing them flat tricky; even my old pairs still don’t lay exactly flat when I’m not wearing them.

I couldn’t justify keeping both pairs, so sent back the Rose Gold Glam and kept the Lovestruck. The pattern on each shoe is different, so I’d imagine each pair looks different, as well. You can see that the pattern on the top of my left shoe almost resembles a peacock (to my mind, at least).

I’ve seen some customers commenting on the Tieks Instagram feed that they’ve had quality issues with new pairs. I’m not going to wear my new Tieks out and about until after the wedding, but haven’t noticed any issues while trying to stretch them out around the house. I am disappointed at the way my matte black Tieks have cracked on the inside. Although that did happen after more than three years of regular wear, I’d expect a $200+ pair of shoes to be more durable than that.

Will you be wearing (or did you wear) Tieks on your wedding day? Leave a comment and let us know which pair you chose for yourself (or your bridal party)!

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