tieks — perfection on my feet

Ballet flats.  I feel like I’ve tried them all, and none have been quite right.

Years ago I bought a pair of Chanel navy ballet slippers at one of Saks' big sales.  I barely wore them.  Too uncomfortable.

A great pair of quilted pewter ballet shoes by Tory Burch were so unbearable that after wearing them a couple of times, I gave them to my sister.  She loved the way they looked.  She wore them once and they killed her feet.   She gave them to a designer resale shop where they sold for a fraction of the price.

French Sole FS/NY ballet slippers are nice and fairly comfortable.  A have a black suede pair.  Good for a night out, but definitely not for a long walk.

I’m on the computer last week and a 20% coupon pops up for a shoe I’ve never heard of called Tieks by Gavrieli, with the enticing tagline, the ballet flat, reinvented (http://tieks.com). The shoes are adorable and fold into a little bag.  Great for travel and perfect to bring as a second pair when the more stylish pair you’re wearing won’t last the night. 

I do some research and the reviews are so good they sound as if they’ve been written by the founders of Tieks.   There is one basic style but tons of colors and patterns.  I call to ask a question and a real person picks up by the second ring.  I love this company already.  I order two pair, basic black matte and a shimmering blue.

Two days later the shoes arrive in a perfectly sized outer box. Unlike the boxes I get from Amazon that look like half the world has already used them, this box appears to be new.  Inside is a personal note to me from the Tieks team.  And each pair of shoes is sweetly packaged in a little box and wrapped with a flower bow.  I want to love these shoes just from the care that has gone into the packaging.

The shoes look great but feel a little big. 

Tieks only makes full sizes and I’m an 8.5.  I was told to buy the 9.  When I call Customer Service, I am again surprised when a person answers right away. The representative tells me I can re-order the size 8 at no charge, and then later return the size that doesn’t fit.  In other words, I get to keep both pair so I can compare fit, while only paying for one.  Tieks trusts that I’ll do the right thing and return the size that doesn’t fit.  How can you not love this company?

A couple of days later the new ones arrive.  I try them on, and now I'm not sure.  I think the smaller size might be a little snug.  As I write, I’m wearing one on each foot, and will decide later which size and which pair to keep.  Basic black goes with everything, and I can wear them year round, but the crazy blue ones are just so much more interesting.

I should keep none, but doubt that will happen.