Tieks Foldable Ballet Flats Review

As a frequent traveler both for work and leisure, I am always on the hunt for comfortable, lightweight shoes for my journeys. Bonus if they are airport security friendly, meaning there is no metal in the sole to set off the detectors. I was intrigued when a representative from Tieks by Gavrieli reached out asking if I wanted to try a pair of their unique, foldable ballet flats and of course took them up on their offer to choose a pair and provide a review. I browsed the selection online and chose the versatile leopard print leather flats. If you have followed me a for a while, you know I am a big fan of leopard print and treat it as a neutral that is easily mixed with other prints. In today's look, I styled these leopard print flats with an eyelet stripe crop button down shirt that is so cute for summer and comes in three colors, white jeans, and a blue sweater thrown over my shoulders for a bit of extra warmth on a cool spring day. A neutral bag and several of my favorite accessories round out this office-friendly and travel-friendly ensemble. Please continue scrolling to see more photos, links, and my full review of these Tieks by Gavriel leopard flats. 

Tieks Leopard Ballet Flats c/o Tieks by Gavrieli: exact here

Eyelet Stripe Crop Button-up Shirt: exact here (available in 3 colors!)

Sweater: similar here or here

Jeans: exact here and here

Belt: similar here or here

Bag: exact style here (via Rebag) or here (via The RealReal) or similar here

Watch: exact here

So, how did these foldable ballet flats rate? I'll start with the pros:

1) They fit true to size for me--I am generally a size 8, sometimes a 7.5 depending on the brand, and size 8 fit me very well in both the length and the width

2) The unique design with a split sole (meaning one sole under the ball of your foot and one under your heel, not running the full length of the shoe) is indeed flexible and these shoes fold up into a small, easy to pack shape. They were shipped with two small shoe bags designed to fit each shoe folded up, which is extremely handy for travel. These will definitely be coming with me on work trips.

3) The leather uppers are thick, high quality leather and the heel is not elasticized--meaning it doesn't pinch or rub against your heel. I was pleasantly surprised that these have a cushioned heel that is comfortable right out of the box, as that has been a pain point for me for ballet flats in the past.

4) The thick non-skid rubber soles have great traction and feel like they will wear well over time. These soles also add to the quality--some ballet flats feel flimsy and these do not.

5) The leopard print is adorable and will go with so many outfits in my closet!

Now, there are a couple of cons:

1) The toebox was tight for me initially, meaning my toes felt squished after wearing these flats and walking for about an hour. I think they will stretch, but I have read reviews from others stating that these flats can create "bumps" for your toes as they stretch and wear, which does not look very appealing. I have also  read that proper conditioning of the leather will prevent this. I'll definitely be watching for this issue and conditioning the leather periodically.

2) The cost is higher than a typical ballet flat, which I know can turn some potential buyers away. I completely agree with having a budget and making thoughtful purchases within your budget, so it is worth noting that the women's styles currently range in price from $185 USD to $345 USD depending on the color/print, and this exact leopard pair currently retails for $245 USD. These are made with high quality materials, and I have read many reviews stating that they are well worth the cost and wear well over time, so I'll have to wear mine more and report back on this over time.

Have you tried Tieks by Gavrieli foldable ballet flats before? If so, I would love to hear how they fit and whether you liked them! Thank you for visiting my blog today and I hope you have a wonderful week!

 This is a sponsored post in partnership with Tieks by Gavrieli. Although product was provided free of charge by Tieks by Gavrieli, all opinions contained in this post are my own. 

Linking up with Doused in Pink, Curated by Jennifer, I Do deClaire, Nancy's Fashion Style, The Fashion Canvas, This Blonde's Shopping Bag, Walking in Memphis in High Heels