Toe to Toe: Tieks versus Tory Burch Flats

Ballets flats are a dream for anyone who wants their outfit to look finished stay comfortable. Living in Southern California, the land of flip flops and sandals year round, ballet flats are a great closed toed show option for our casual and active lifestyles. For mommies, they are a great shoe that is comfortable enough to wear all day and can slip on and off easily while you chase the littles around the sandbox. In this post we will be comparing two of my favorite ballet flats, Tieks and the Reva by Tory Burch.

Tieks:

Tieks are newer to the fashion scene and most of their customers are probably converted Tory Burch customers who want to try something different but still has a signature look.

Their simple ballet flat style is accented with an awesome tiffany blue sole, think Louboutin’s red sole but blue. The two piece sole gives lots of flexibility and allows the shoes to easily be folded in half for easy travel. The two piece sole also lets you reveal the cute teal sole when you take a step.

In addition to the signature sole color these shoes have an extensive color offering that is probably half of the appeal. I honestly don’t know where else you can find the variety of colors they have in one place. Lilac, mustard, fuchsia, pretty much every color and print under the sun is available. If you are after a particular color flat, this is the first place I would go

These shoes are unbelievable comfortable and basically feel like socks with a sole on them they are that comfortable. The leather is subtle but it does lend less structure to the shoe, sometimes you can almost see the outline of your toes which no one else probably notices but I feel like it makes them more of a casual option and don’t quite pass for the polished look you get with a Tory Burch flat.

The price on these shoes starts at $175. I actually bought most of mine a couple years ago and think they were in the $260(?) range so it’s nice to see their prices now under $200. Yes, it’s a lot of money for a flat, I can’t argue that. But, if it’s a flat you know you will wear all the time, it might be justified. I look at purchases like this in terms of “cost per wear”. I bought these shoes right before I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Throughout my first and then second pregnancy they were a godsend! I wore those shoes day in and day out as my feet grew, shrunk, grew and then shrunk again. Even now they still fit great and don’t show any signs or smell of the heavy wear. I guarantee the cheaper alternative would have never held up as well!

Price:

Starts at $175 and go up to $295 for their special prints. High price for a basic flat but if you plan to wear them a lot the price is justified

Colors:

To die for! Every color under the sun

Packaging:

LOVE. They come in a cool box and I actually use them to store random kid toys that have a ton of little pieces. They also have a little bag that they shoes fold perfectly into which allows you to easily stash and stow them in a tote bag or luggage.

Best Way to Wear:

• Around the office: I always kept a pair under my desk for when I wanted to slip out of heels. 4
• On the go: Casual style that you can wear for a day of errands and not complain about aching feet
• Mommy’s: Dream come true. You’ll look more polished than flip flops and can easily slip on without a notice.
• Weddings: I always stash a pair in my clutch (or husbands coat pocket) when we go to weddings. By the end of the night, or sometimes before we even hit the dance floor, I slip off my heels. It makes for such a better evening and I constantly get asked by other women at the wedding “where can they get those shoes!”

Tory Burch Ballet Flats

Tory Burch’s ballet flat basically put the ballet flat back on the map a decade ago. The line started in 2004 and after being endorsed by Oprah as “the next big thing in fashion” shortly thereafter, the line and the Reva ballet flat lived up to its expectation and became a billion dollar business. The Reva ballet flat was there at the beginning driving the trend with the iconic boho preppy style and signature Tory Burch metal logo on the shoe.

These shoes are quality from every angle. From the construction to the materials, no corner was cut in manufacturing these beautiful shoes. With a trend that has lasted 10 years, the shoes themselves have held up 10 years as well. The Reva is the signature style that has been around for 10 years. It’s so classic that I don’t think it will date. I just wore mine today and still got compliments on them. The bling Tory Burch logo on the top of the shoe really makes it stand out as a designer shoe and who doesn’t like a little bling.

Where Tieks offers only smooth leather with printed graphics the Tory Burch flats takes it to the next level with perforated leather, embossed leather, suedes. While Tiek’s offers every style at one time, these shoes have seasons like traditional fashion houses. This creates an element of scarcity where if you like a style get it now because it’s not going to be around for more than a couple months.

With the Reva being around so long the style is starting to transition out and make way for some other styles like the bar logo flat with pointed toe. These styles are great for someone with a more well developed wardrobe but aren’t quite as suitable for playground play.

Price:

Starts at $175 and go up to $295 for their special prints. High price for a basic flat but if you plan to wear them a lot the price is justified

Colors:

To die for! Every color under the sun

Packaging:

Basic shoe box but with a cool print. If you like pretty things and packaging you could repurpose it but the cardboard isn’t nearly as withstanding as the Tiek’s box.

Best Way to Wear:

• Finished look: Can’t slip these on with workout wear but are great pretty much anything else, jeans, leggings, dresses. Very versatile and really make your outfit look thought out and finished.
• Around the office: These aren’t slip on later shoes, they look good enough you could wear them into the office, giving a presentation and out to lunch.
• On the go: Go for errands but I don’t like these as an all day on my feet shoe. Some styles are more comfortable than others so it’s a little subjective depending on which one you are buying
• Mommy’s: Lunch dates and times when you have to be on and off duty as Mommy. Think, go to a work and then stop by school open house after. Soccer game when you have lunch date after.

Looking for Tory Burch flats that are in pristine condition but already broken in.  Check out The Real Real.

The Bottom Line

Whether you are a Tiek’s girl or a Tory Burch lover, just remember if you are borrowing from your daycare budget to get a new pair of shoes I would stick with something that you are going to get the most wear from.

Do you own Tiek’s and Tory Burch Reva flats? Which is your favorite?