Give your Tieks ballet flats a little TLC by adding moleskin to the toe box to prevent excessive leather wear. I'm going to show why adding moleskin to your designer flats is a good idea and show you how to do it with a quick video.
I'm a total Tieks addict and after owning several pairs I've learned a few helpful tips to keep my designer ballet flats in tip-top shape. As I mentioned in my Tieks review, these soft leather flats mold to your feet for a perfect fit. That also means that sometimes you can see the outline of your toes, and especially your big toe. In the Tieks fandom world, we call this the "toe bump." Over time, your big toe may cause pressure on this area and it may wear through the thin cotton layer on the inside of your Tieks toe box and cause the leather to thin a bit, causing a noticeable bump. It's not a big deal and doesn't effect the fit, but it can be bothersome to some people. It's also preventable with just a little bit of moleskin. Below, I'm showing you my Metallic Pewter Tieks that really show off my big toe.
If you aren't familiar with it, moleskin is soft cotton fabric on an adhesive pad that can be stuck to the skin to prevent blisters. Some people will apply it to the back of their heels to prevent rubbing or over a tender bunion for added cushion. But, moleskin can also be applied directly to your shoe for a long term solution. That's what you can do for your Tieks ballet flats.
After a year of heavy use, my Cardinal Red Tieks started to get some wear in the toe area. I noticed that the cotton lining within the toe box had worn through so I reached out to Tieks customer service. They are absolutely amazing and offered to send me a pre-paid label to send them in for repair. I asked what they'd do and the customer service representative told me they would apply moleskin to the area. Although I appreciated the offer, I didn't want them to have to spend money on shipping (both ways) for a quick fix that I could surely do myself. I hopped on Amazon and ordered a roll of moleskin, and since I'm a prime member I had it within 2 days. I decided to add a double layer of moleskin to prevent further wear and to decrease the look of the outward toe bump. It works like a charm!
Here's how to add moleskin to your Tieks ballet flats.
Line up the moleskin sheet or roll with your Tieks toe box to get an idea of how big the piece needs to be. Then, cut the moleskin in the shape of the toe box. It will form a sort of half circle.
Flip the cut piece of moleskin over and start to peel the back away from the adhesive. Don't pull it all the way off, just expose a small piece of the adhesive and stick it to the very end of your index finger (you're going to use your finger to guide the moleskin to edge of the shoe, so don't it too stuck on).
Insert the moleskin, sticky side up into the toe box of your Tieks flats, guiding it with your finger to the very front tip of the shoe. Remove your finger from the adhesive, making sure the moleskin is still all the way to the end of the shoe and then press down on the top of the flats to get the moleskin to adhere to the inside of the shoe.
Then, start peeling the adhesive backing away slowly, while pressing down on the top (outside) of the flats to make sure it adheres. Check to make sure it's applying smoothly, otherwise a crease may rub you the wrong way.
Check out my video demonstration here:
Grab these Tieks upkeep items on Amazon:
Dr. Scholl's Moleskin Plus 24Tarrago Leather Cream Jar 50ml. #502
Apple Brand Leather Care Kit 4 oz Cleaner & 4 oz Conditioner + Cleaning Cloth
UPDATE: A commenter below asked about Tieks with bunions and I mentioned that my mom has a decent sized bunion and Tieks are the only flats she's able to wear comfortably. Another commenter asked for a photo to see how Tieks with bunions would look so I'm adding that here. Hope this helps!
If you're still deciding on which pair of Tieks ballet flats is right for you, be sure to check out my post about picking the perfect pair of Tieks shoes.
To see how versatile Tieks ballet flats can be, check out my post about why every woman needs a little blue stripe in their wardrobe.
Check out my full Tieks review to see why I adore these ballet flats.
Here's how to care for your Tieks.
Here's a handy post about how to polish your Tieks ballet flats.
Christy says
Ruth, thanks for the recommendation! I just bought my first pair of Tieks (sensible matte black) and the toe bump was very noticeable. Followed your tute, doubled up on the moleskin, and poof! No more bump. 🙂
Ruth V. says
Hi Christy! I'm so glad the moleskin worked for you!
Christy says
Follow up question ... do you find that moleskin is necessary in the patents as well as the classics? Just ordered Pop Pink so was wondering. ?
Karen says
What is toe pump
Ruth V. says
Hi Karen! A toe bump is the bump your big toe makes when it pushes up on the top of the toe box.
Robin L Marvel says
I just recieved my 1st pair as well (Matte black) & can see I'm going to have to double up too !
Kate says
Learning curve, but have applied moleskin to both my Tieks, prior to the first wear. I will say, that this application makes the shoe quite snug, so you'll need a break in period...far less painful than looking and living with toe bump. Ugh. Also, a lesson learned from my first job in highschool...polish before wearing the first time...you will scuff the polish before the leather. I polish ALL my leather footwear frequently...I've had my good pairs of shoes last for YEARS!
sandy says
How much are these shoes and do they come in wide?
Ruth V. says
Hi Sandy! They start at $175 and they don't come in Wide, but a lot of ladies with wide feet have reported great success with Tieks. Hope that helps!
Tiffany Thorpe says
That is very cool you posted the bunion pic! It can be hard to order shoes online not knowing what they will look like on your foot.
Ruth V. says
So glad I could help!
Donna says
I have bone spurs in my heal and a spur on the top of my big toe at the joint. How cushioned are these shoes for bone spurs?
Ruth V. says
I'm not sure they'd be cushioned enough for bone spurs. You could add a cushioned insole if you have a little room (for example if you're a size 8 or 8.5 and ordered a 9 with and used an insole).
Stephanie says
After reading this part of your blog months ago when I bought my first pair of Tieks, I thought I didn't need moleskin. But there were times that my big toenail had a lot of pressure put on after wearing my Tieks for extended hours. So after re-consideration and after re-reading this article again, I decided to give it a try. Boy, did I underestimate how tacky the moleskin can get when trying to get it to stick to the inside of the shoe! A couple of practice tries and managed to get them in successfully. Thanks for this!
Ruth V. says
Hi Stephanie! Once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad. Glad you gave moleskin a try!
Cristi says
I have skinny bony feet and wear a 8.5 in most shoes but tennis shoes I size up to a 9 should I get an 8 or 9 ? This will be my first pair!
Ruth V. says
I'd try a 9, but you might want to put in an immediate exchange for the size 8. That way you can compare both of them side by side and see which feels best. (It's free shipping for returns/exchanges).
Mary Lynn says
Would someone comment on the insole? I need quite a bit of support and have seen very little description of it. I have never been able to wear ballet slippers but love the look and would like to try Tieks.
Ruth V. says
Hi Mary Lynn! There is not a lot of arch support in Tieks. If that's what you're looking for, some people have had a lot of success with using an insert to add more support. Hope that helps!
Julia says
I just started having this same problem this week (wearing through the lining) so I'm glad I found your post. Did you remove the damaged lining at all before adding the moleskin?
Ruth V. says
Yes, if it's really peeling, I peel it off completely. Otherwise, I go over it.
Ellen Stebbins says
Hey there!
Just wanted to thank you for your incredibly thorough information on Tieks! I have wanted a pair for a couple of years but have REALLY wide feet and since I have trouble with 90% of flats and shoes in general I figured they wouldn't fit. Recently I started thinking about them again and decided to go ahead and order some to try and worse case scenario I could return them if they didn't fit. After deciding to buy a pair I was then so indecisive on which pair to order first, this is when I found your blog about finding the perfect pair! I loved your in depth review but I REALLY loved how you had examples of each color and compared them side by side, it helped me SO MUCH! I went ahead and ordered my first pair in Mustard! Even though my feet are really wide they fit but I thought they looked funny (because of my wide feel) and planned on returning. I tried them on again today and decided I do like them and am keeping them! Naturally I wanted to learn how to keep them in the best shape possible and again, I found your information! I just ordered the Apple cleaner and conditioner, Tarrago, and moleskin. Sorry this is so long and drawn out but I really and truly appreciate the amazing information you've provided and the time you spent doing it! You helped me A TON with picking my first pair and learning to care for them! In fact, I just ordered 2 more! Chestnut and Fuchsia. Thanks again!
Ruth V. says
Thank you so much for letting me know, Ellen! I really appreciate it and I'm so happy I could help!
Jessica K says
Thank you for sharing your Tieks knowledge! I recently bought my first pair and found all of your posts helpful. I applied moleskin today following your tutorial. It really does help lessen the look of my toe bump. I’m curious about how long the moleskin will last in the shoe. Does it last forever or do you need to replace it periodically?
Ruth V. says
You might need to replace it every few months depending on wear. Sometimes the stickiness wears off after a while and the edges roll a bit. Hope that helps!
Ragini says
How snug does the moleskin make the Tieks? I'm usually a size 8.5, the size 8 without the moleskin is a bit loose and I worry that it will become even looser as the leather gives with wear..
I just put in for a size 7 to compare but do plan on putting moleskin in - I'm assuming once you apply it, it's difficult to remove to return. Hence I wonder how much snugger it will make it.
Thanks!
Ruth V. says
It will make them a little snugger, but not by too much. And once you add the moleskin, the rest of the shoes will stretch and mold to your foot as needed.
Sarah says
Does going up a size help with the toe bump. I just bought my first pair and the toe bump is extremely noticeable and the shoes sit low on my toes however they are extremely comfortable! Just trying to figure out the best size. Thanks!
Ruth V. says
If they fit comfortably, I'd stick with the size you have and just add a layer or two of moleskin. They'll stretch a little with the moleskin added and will still fit well 🙂
Peggy Beam says
Why aren't these beautiful pricey flats made with the moleskin
Already installed?
Ruth V. says
Not everyone needs or wants the moleskin I suppose. I just prefer it.