I’m constantly on a hunt for comfortable flats, and have tried countless brands. The latest to catch my eye is Tieks by Gavrieli. For those of you who don’t know, Tieks are an update on the classic ballet flat. According to their website, Tieks are made from full grain Italian leather, and feature a compact foldable design that lets the shoe fold to fit in a purse. I’ve been seeing Tieks everywhere lately, and from what I can tell, women love them. I was recently out shopping and noticed several women wearing them. I even asked one of them what she thought and she said they’re one of her best discoveries and she doesn’t know how she lived without them. I’ve also talked to friends and co-workers who have Tieks and they all rave about them. Despite all the positive reviews, one question lingered for me: At $175, are Tieks worth the price? I knew the only way to find out was to purchase a pair to try for myself.

Tieks are sold exclusively online, so I headed for their website to check out the boutiek (that’s what they call their online store – cute, right?). The first thing that stood out was how many colors they have!! And not just colors, but patterns, textures, and leathers. They even have a vegan line! I knew I wanted a neutral color, but I had no idea I’d have so many choices. Tieks truly has every shade of shoe you could ever want- black, white, cream, grey, brown, you name it! I wanted something that would be suitable for the office, but could transition easily to the weekend as well. My first thought was to purchase the Matte Black. After all, black goes with everything. However, after browsing for a bit, I settled on Metallic Pewter. It’s such a beautiful neutral, and I’d remembered seeing it on a coworker of mine and thinking how much I loved the metallic sheen! I placed my order and my shoes were shipped out that same day. Not too shabby, Tieks!

I’m sure I’m not the only one who anxiously checks the tracking every day to see when my online purchases will arrive and my Tieks were no different! I couldn’t wait to try them on and see what all the fuss was about. Two days after they shipped, my Tieks arrived at my front door. The first thing I noticed after opening the box was how adorable the packaging is. Tieks are packaged in a bright blue box (I think they call it Tiek Blue) and wrapped with an embellished flower box. Every pair comes with a pouch to store the shoes, a tote to store your heels after you take them off, a little card showing you how to care for your Tieks, and a handwritten note (which was my favorite part.)

Now for the shoes themselves: as soon as you take them out of the box, you know you have a quality product. They are just stunning! From the hand-stitched insoles to the buttery leather upper, Tieks are truly a work of art. I was so glad I decided to go with the Pewter pair. The color is absolutely beautiful, and I know it will go with almost everything in my closet. Finally, I loved the smell of the Italian leather! You know the one…it’s the same smell that accompanies luxurious handbags and high end leather boots. Even though I was smitten with the look of my new ballet flats, I knew the final test would be comfort. After all, you can’t wear a shoe all day if it hurts, no matter how beautiful it is!

I decided to take my Tieks for the ultimate trial run – a weekend conference. I was a little skeptical they would hold up the entire weekend, so I packed a pair of already broken in backup flats, just in case. As it turns out, I could have left my backup pair at home. My Tieks were so comfortable from the moment I put them on, I just couldn’t believe it. The way the luxuriously soft leather molds to the shape of your foot is simply magical. I’ve tried so many brands of ballet flats, and I’ve never had a pair fit me as well as my Tieks. They were a little snug at first, but by the end of the first day at the conference, I could tell they were forming to the shape of my foot. I kept waiting for that signature, back-of-the-heel, blister that comes with a new pair of shoes, but it never came! I think this is because the back of Tieks are cushioned, rather than elasticized. I was astonished by how many women at my conference recognized Tieks and came up to me to share their own stories about how much they love their Tieks. One woman told me that Tieks were the only shoes she could wear during her pregnancies while still feeling stylish!

I’ve had my Tieks for a full month now, and I have to say, I’m impressed. Unlike other flats I’ve tried, Tieks offer extra cushioning and support that keep my feet happy after a full day of wear. I receive compliments every time I wear them, and find myself reaching for my Tieks multiple times a week – so much so that my other flats are making their way to the back of my closet! A shoe at this price point needs to be a quality investment, and Tieks are just that. The company really stands behind their product, which I love, and their customer service is outstanding. I’ll be sure to report back in a few months on how my Tieks are doing, but for now I can say YES YES YES! Tieks are absolutely worth the price. I’d recommend them to any woman, and can definitively say there will be additional pairs of Tieks in my (near) future. I’d love to add a few more neutrals to my collection (basically any of the styles on this page) but I have my eye on the fuchsia as well!

If you own a pair of Tieks, I’d love to know what you think of them! Do you find yourself always wanting another pair? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to check back for updates to my post!

This post is not sponsored. I bought my Tieks with my own money.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.