There was a time when choosing a pair of shoes was purely a practical decision. As a mom of five, I didn’t think much about fashion. My days revolved around school runs, grocery shopping, family holidays, endless to-do lists, and making sure everyone else had what they needed. If my shoes were comfortable enough to get me through the day, that was all I really asked of them. Somewhere along the way, I stopped choosing things simply because I liked them. Now life looks a little different.
My children are grown, our home is quieter than it used to be, and I’ve found myself paying attention to the little things again. Not because I’m trying to reinvent my style, but because I finally have the space to enjoy it. I’ve realised that comfort and style don’t have to compete with each other anymore—they can actually go hand in hand.
That was one of the reasons I was genuinely curious when I had the opportunity to try a pair of olive Tieks ballet flats.
Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference
I think many women reach a point where they start buying less, but choosing more carefully. Instead of filling the wardrobe with impulse purchases, we look for pieces that feel timeless, work with almost everything we already own and become favourites year after year.
That’s exactly what I hope for when I buy shoes.
I want them to look elegant enough for lunch with friends, comfortable enough for a day of walking around town and versatile enough to pack for a weekend away without thinking twice.
That’s a lot to ask from one pair of flats.
My experience with Tieks
I’ve always liked ballet flats. They’ve been part of my wardrobe for years because they’re easy to wear, feminine, and work with almost everything. But before this collaboration, I had never heard of Tieks. So when I was invited to try a pair, I was genuinely curious. Could they really feel different from the ballet flats I’d worn before? Or would they simply be another beautiful pair of shoes?
I quickly discovered that the difference wasn’t something I noticed by looking at them—it was something I noticed by wearing them.
The first surprise was the colour.
Olive green isn’t an obvious choice, and that’s exactly why I like it. It’s softer than black, more interesting than beige, and somehow works with almost everything I wear. Jeans, linen trousers, simple dresses or an oversized white shirt—it never feels out of place.
What impressed me most, though, wasn’t the colour. It was how quickly I forgot I was wearing them.
That may not sound particularly exciting, but I actually think it’s one of the biggest compliments you can give a pair of shoes. There was no moment when I wished I’d packed a spare pair. No rubbing, no aching feet and no silent countdown until I could finally kick them off at home.
They simply became part of the day.
The first time I really noticed them was during a day that turned out to be much longer than I’d planned. What started as a quick coffee in town became hours of walking, browsing little shops and sitting on sunny terraces. Only when I got home did I realise I hadn’t thought about my shoes once all day.
For me, that’s become much more important than chasing trends.
Buying better instead of buying more
Raising five children teaches you to think carefully before buying anything.
For years, every purchase had to make sense. It wasn’t about having more—it was about choosing things that would last, work well, and be worth bringing into our home.
Funny enough, that habit never really goes away.
These days, I don’t buy many new things, but when I do, I want them to earn their place in my wardrobe. I look for pieces that work with what I already own, that I can wear in different situations and that I’ll still enjoy reaching for next season—not just next week.
That’s exactly how these ballet flats feel to me.
If you’re considering a pair yourself, I’d recommend browsing the Tieks reviews. Reading other women’s experiences is often the best way to understand how a product fits into everyday life, and I always find those real stories more helpful than a list of features or specifications.
Conclusion
Motherhood has a way of teaching us to put ourselves last for a while. And honestly, I wouldn’t change those years for anything. But I also think there’s something wonderful about this next chapter. The children need us differently. Life slows down just enough to notice the details again. We start choosing things not because they’re practical for everyone else, but because they genuinely suit the women we’ve become.
For me, these ballet flats fit perfectly into that chapter.
Not because they’re fashionable.
Not because they’re a luxury purchase.
But because they quietly remind me that choosing comfort doesn’t mean giving up style—and perhaps it never really had to.