Just back from Water Island and had a wonderful new experience during this stay. Saved my money and purchased custom sandals from Zora's on St. Thomas. Zora makes custom sandals for men and women. They're a little pricey but they are CUSTOM made to fit your foot. She offers different styles that will accomodate your likes and/or lifestyle. It was an interesting process and a fun experience and I love my new sandals which seem to be built to last for a lifetime and are very attractive. Zora's is located a few blocks east of the Post Office. There's a little white sign with ZORA in red letters hanging down in the front door/entrance of her shop. Last weekend there was a car mishap which resulted in a car taking out one of the support structures as well as hitting the northeast corner of the building that Zora's shop is in. So, for now, her entrance is marked by yellow caution tape.....but the shop is open and doing a steady stream of business.

Visit 1 - Pick the Style
When you enter Zora's shop there are two "sides" - go to the right, step up on the platform and sit in the director's chair. One of Zora's associates will put sandals on each of your feet in different styles. Don't worry about the fit. The point of this first phase is to pick the style. You step down from the platform, look at the style on each foot in the mirror, decide "yes" or "no", step back up on the platform, into the chair, two new styles, repeat process. Eventually you eliminate your choices until you've arrived at the style you want to go forward with. Then, the associate will have you stand and under each foot will be legal size blank paper. They will outline your foot and arch and then measure length, width, toes, ......every inch of your foot and record the information. Once you pay in full or in part, the "Pick your Style" phase is complete and they schedule you to return for the next phase.

Visit 2 - The Fitting
When you enter Zora's shop, go to the left. Step up on the platform and sit in the fancy mandarin chair. Zora will put the basic sandal in the style you've chosen (without the "sole"), ask you questions about the feel/fit, and then you get down off the platform with the basic sandal on and walk "1000 steps" around Zora's shop. Get back up on the platform, Zora makes adjustments as she asks you more questions about the feel/fit. Then, she schedules you to come back and pick up your sandals.

Visit 3 - Pick up Your Sandals
When you arrive they will put your new sandals on your feet. Then, you will wear those sandals out of the store (she gives you a bag to carry your old shoes/sandals home) with instructions to wear the sandals as much as possible in order to get "feet prints" in the sandal. The sandals in this phase are all done except they're a bit like "duck" shoes or, as my husband said more appropriately for me, "clown shoes". They will schedule you to return in a week or two when they will trim the sandals according to your "feet prints".

Visit 4 - Final Visit
When you enter Zora's shop, go to the left. Step up on the platform and sit in chair. Tell Zora how the sandals worked for you, any problems, etc. For me, no problems. Zora then makes an outline on the actual sandal, takes them off your feet, and sends them upstairs to be trimmed. 10 minutes later, I was walking out the door with the coolest, most comfortable sandals I've ever owned.

I recommend you pay the extra $ to include the "cushion".....especially if you're looking for (like I was) walking sandals. I thoroughly enjoyed the process/experience and am now thoroughly enjoying wearing my new Zora sandals.