Tieks by Gavrieli ballet flats. Marketed as the ballet flat, reinvented. Foldable and carry-able, but stylish ballet flats with an actual sole?! When Tieks first reached out to collaborate I was intrigued.

Flat, cute shoes that can be brought in a bag, if need be. Carried along for later. That come in a leopard print option with a teal sole?! Ok, make that really intrigued. I really wanted to know was if they were as practical as they were stylish. So I said yes to the shoes, excited to try them out.

And with Vancouver Fashion Week upon us, what better time to try and see what I thought? The week’s fashion shows mean making the trek downtown several times to witness the designs live on the runway. Meaning looking for parking, walking to the event, possibly waiting in lines, and a fair amount of standing. A decent trial run for any shoe.

My first initial thought was ‘adorable packaging’. Adorable packaging that arrived so quickly. They even came complete with carrying pouch and foldable tote.

I liked the soft Italian leather and the leather insole of the tieks, as well. And of course I loved the pattern!

The teal and leopard print combo I chose did not disappoint. It will go nicely with all things. Anyone who tries to tell you leopard print is not a neutral staple is missing out.

The ballet flats are far more substantial and non-slip than I expected. These will be a great addition to packing for trips and vacations.

So, did I actually bring these along for a fashion show?! I did, and I even let them have their own red carpet debut, as well as an evening in my bag.

The verdict is that tieks – by Gavrieli are a great, high-end shoe to add to your wardrobe, with lots of styling and wearing options.

Definitely liking this reinvention of the classic ballet flat and looking forward to wearing them for years to come.