For over a year I have been curious about Tieks, a ballet flat that claims to be the best and most comfortable one out there. About 9 months ago I decided to make the purchase. Now I’m talking about my Tieks and how to order the right size!
How to buy Tieks
I know what you’re thinking why did you debate buying a pair of ballet flats? Well these flats come with a hefty price tag. Starting at $175 you’re getting quality leather and a supportive and flexible shoe, but if you’re like me that’s a big portion of the yearly shoe budget so I really needed to know that they were as comfortable and awesome as everyone claimed.
Tieks Sizing:
I’m usually a size 6 or 6.5 and after reading the site and other reviews I decided to get the size 6, since the shoes are only sold in whole sizes. I put a pair of violet in my cart and hit the buy button. It was a tough thing to click, but I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to get my blue box with the famous flower and handwritten note. The shoes arrived in 2 days and I tried them on and thought okay. They were snug and didn’t feel as comfortable as I thought and I was a bit bummed, so I put them back in the box. Then the holidays came around and they sat in the box, and it was cold so they sat some more. I tried to put them on again in February and they just didn’t feel right. That’s when I decided to call customer service.
I’m so glad I called, they recommended I try the size 7 and said they would get them out, at no extra charge with a prepaid return label, so I could compare the 2 sizes and ship back which ever one I didn’t want. At this moment I also decided I wanted to change my color so I asked if the 7 could be the Cardinal red. No problem and 2 days later they arrived at my door.
I am so thankful because I slipped on the size 7 and it was perfect. These shoes felt like butter on my feet and after breaking them in (about 2 days) they became my go to shoes.
Do Tieks Stretch
Then I decided I wanted to get another pair. Since I had been through the 1st round I knew I needed a size 7 so I placed my order for Matte Black, they arrived and I put them on and they were tight. I know Tieks has a rule that you can return the shoes as long as you don’t wear them outside of the house so I wore them around the house for a few days. Something just felt off. I decided to email them to see about exchanging them. I went back and forth with Jessica, who was amazing, and she told me that sometimes the leather is different and will stretch, but in the end I asked to exchange these for another pair, and changed my color to Mustard Yellow. When they arrived 2 days later they fit like a glove.
Best Fit for Tieks
The point of my post is to help make sure you’re getting the best fit with your Tieks. So here are my 4 tips:
- If you wear a half size I recommend you round up (ex. If you wear size 7.5 order a size 8)
- Wear your Tieks around the house to “break them in” (remember once you wear them outside you can’t return or exchange them)
- Make sure you’re happy with them (this goes for fit and color)
- Tieks Customer Service is amazing don’t hesitate to contact them even if it’s just to say great job!
So when you’re ready to make the purchase just know that Tieks has an awesome customer service team on hand to help you make sure you have the perfect fit! The hardest part is choosing the color.
They are so cute!
I have too many pairs (well, my friends think so), and I also found ordering to be an art form. I wear a 10 or 10.5, but discovered that 10s in the regular leathers work fine since they stretch out, but the patents and metallic ones don’t stretch, so I get an 11 in those. They’re a big too big, but not enough for me not to wear them. And I also ran into a similar problem as your second. The 10 in the chestnut brown was too tight, but I knew that the 11 would be too big, so I just asked for a new size 10 chestnut. Sure enough, the second one fit much better.
So great to hear your tips as well, and that I’m not alone with a pair not feeling right. Thanks for stopping over and enjoy your Tieks!
Alas, I found a so-so review of these shoes. I am a solid size 7 and I ordered them as a size 7. Ouch..so tight. I wore with socks and put in a shoe stretcher. Ouch..too bad I can’t return them. I wore them outside in hopes that all the other awesome reviews about breaking.them in would work. It hasn’t happened yet. It’s been two weeks, wearing every other day. It makes me wonder if all those other bloggers that left great reviews got a free trial pair?
That stinks, I was thinking the same thing at first, but once I went up in size it worked for me. I’m sorry it’s not going so great for you because i know how frustrating that can be.
Nan, I wear a size 9 and ordered a size 9. I’ve done EVERYTHING from worn them with fluffy socks for hours, to using a blow dryer to stretch. The worse pain is on the big toes. I had already worn them outside so I couldn’t return. I don’t walk a lot at work and my feet still hurt after 8 hrs. I’ve worn them for months already and no relief.
They will stretch them for you if you get in touch with them to let them know!
Call customer service or email them. They will stretch and polish your existing pair complimentary. They’ll email you postage to send in to the services department.
I am with Nan… I wear between an 11 and and 11 1/2. I tried both the 11 and the 12. The 12’s were so big they were slipping off my feet when I walked. I keep hoping the 11’s will stretch enough to be comfortable… right now they are pinching my heal on my left foot and leave rub marks on the top near my big toe. I am going to try socks to stretch them and if that doesn’t work I hope they will fit my niece. I wish Tieks offered 1/2 sizes.
I totally agree and wish they were available in 1/2 sizes as well.
I have decided not to order Tieks . I’ve been very tempted but after reading the above comments I will wait until half sizes are introduced . To bad . I was going to make my first order today. .
Same here!
I’m disappointed too. An 8 was too tight so I requested a 9, which was too big. I wore the 8s around my house for about 15 minutes and they cut in across the front of my foot. I was afraid to wear them any longer in hopes of stretching them for fear I wouldn’t be able to return them. $175 is a huge leap for me – never paid that much for a pair of shoes in my life and I just don’t want to take a chance on them not being comfortable so will return both. Too bad as they sounded wonderful and are so darn cute. I so wish they offered half sizes!
Sorry they didn’t work out for you and I agree that it’s too much $$ to hope it will fit better.
What about narrow feet…any suggestions there? I typically wear an 8 1/2 narrow shoe…what size Tieks should I order….
I’m not sure, but I think you would want a size 9. I’ve heard they work fine with narrow feet.
Hi there!
I just received my first pair in the mail today! I ordered the 7 and the 8 as I am a true 7.5. I am wearing the 7s now which are tight. The 8s are perfect but I’m afraid they will stretch too much and end up too big in the long run? What is your experience with them stretching and flipping off once broken in? Debating on sticking with the 7s to see how much they will stretch and conform?
Thanks
I personally went with the bigger size as I found they just were too tight. I don’t have problems with mine slipping off my feet or being too big. I’ve never had them flip off and I have pretty narrow feet. I don’t think the leather stretches like people expect but since I went bigger I’m not sure sure. I hope this helps!
Yes! That absolutely does hep! Thank you so much! I appreciate it.
God Bless!
I just received my very 1st pair of Tieks today, and was very surprised at how sturdy they were, wow!
Anyway, I was a bit unsure at first because my toes felt too long in them so I decided to clip my nails and give them a good solid go.
After trimming nails, they seemed to fit better and my feet were not spilling over the edge, as is the case with my MK’s, ballet flats, unfortunately, after an hour and a half of wearing them around the house, eventually my toes were becoming numb in my left foot, so I reluctantly took them off. Immediately I was shocked to see how red my feet were from the elastic edges, don’t get me wrong, the elastic is what keeps these shoes on your feet, but it was just too tight.
I just requested my size 7 and hope those will work, normally, if I ever have an issue with size, I will size up to a 6.5, not 7 so fingers crossed.
That’s how I felt, so I’m curious how did the 7’s work for you?
I agree. I wore them around the house for the first day for 12 hours and my feet hurt so bad. I started to get a blister on the right heel. I couldn’t wear them the second day. The third day I wore them again around the house for 10 hours. Same thing ended up having to put a bandage on right heel. Left foot absolutely perfect no red spot. Right side not the case? Any suggestions?
I’m so happy I finally found this review! I’m like you a true size 6 although I do have very few pairs of 6 1/2. I have the Obsidian Black. I’m really debating which one to get. The patent leather seems to run pretty tight. A few questions. How much do Tieks in general really stretch — like a half of a size?? And did you find that the 7’s look a teeny bit bigger in the back vs the 6’s & that you had a bit more toe cleavage with the 7’s?
So the 7’s are a tiny bit big, but were so much better than the 6’s as my toes felt pinched and uncomfortable. Because of the elastic the 7’s weren’t too big in the back or around my foot. Since I returned the 6’s I’m not sure how much they would stretch, if at all, and the 7’s haven’t changed in how they fit me so no stretch there. I hope this is helpful and good luck.