In choosing the perfect sandal for your all-important feet, there are three choices to entertain:

1. The strapping style or design
2. The color of the leather
3. The choice of either the leather or the rubber undersole

Sandal Strapping Primer:

In choosing the strap design, there are three basic styles:

1. The Rilleau Sling variations
2. The Grecian variations
3. The Modified Grecian Toe.

RILLEAU SLING VARIATIONS
The Rilleau Sling styles are far and away the most comfortable of all options. The placement of the straps holds the foot very securely but simultaneously avoids all the major articulating joints of the foot. This creates a wonderful balance of security and freedom.the sandal following closely all the movements of the foot and yet the sensation that you are barefoot. In fact the highest compliment we take is when customers remark that you don't even notice that you have them on!

To adjust the strap tension on the Sling style sandals, one follows the simple Adjustment Procedure that accompanies each finished pair and secures the strap tension with the special tacks provided. (You will also find an attachment on this web site that is a short video clip of the fitting process.) After 7-10 days, the straps will loosen and want a tightening and sometimes will want one more tightening sometime in the upcoming year. At this point, the straps will have reached maximum stretch and need no further adjustment. For any who prefer not to fuss with the adjustment process, your local shoemaker is more than up to the task.

In addition to the sling variations listed above, we now offer a version that does not require the adjustment and tightening procedures mentioned. This variation has one continuous strap that laces between the soles and the slack is taken up with a buckle. It is available only in the "Separate Double" style and will be found in the Gallery. This approach requires the addition of a third sole to allow easy movement of the straps in adjustment. Because of the greatly increased construction time and added materials, this easy to adjust variation is proportionately more expensive.

A NOTE ON TOE RINGS:
Over the forty plus years that I have been making sandals, the issue of toe rings or toe thongs has come up countless times. It is not uncommon to hear a customer say "I just can't wear anything between my toes!" From my long experience what I find is that almost invariably, people's aversion to something between their toes is for one of two reasons.either they have never worn footwear with toe thongs or rings and just think it will be a bother, or they have had such footwear but it was improperly made. So unless a customer is firm in their opinion, I encourage them to experience what a properly made.custom made sandal with a toe piece can do. The importance of the toe ring is that it keeps the front aspect of the sandal closely following the foot movement and does so in a very unobtrusive way. I also offer to remove either toe rings or thongs at no cost if the customer decides after wearing them, they prefer the sandal without.

TOE RINGS / TOE THONGS:
There is some difference between toe thongs and toe rings beside the way they look. All other things equal, a toe ring is the more functional device in keeping the foot and sandal moving together, and it accomplishes its task without being tight to the toe.rather floats loosely around the shaft of the toe and comes into play as the big toe activates to initiate each stride. Toe thongs do help keep the front of sandal and foot together as well, but may take some break-in time to get 100% comfy..

GRECIAN VARIATIONS:
These are based on ancient Grecian style sandals. These were traditionally made with the classic thong, but are offered without the thong for those who don't like something between the toes. These have one long strap to adjust the fit and these are secured with special tacks provided as with the Sling Variations..

MODIFIED GRECIAN TOE. THE EASY-ADJUST SANDAL:
This design is more involved to construct and therefore more costly to make. This style sandal is a bit more confining than the Sling approach, but it is admittedly easier to adjust the strap tension. This style employs one long continuous strap that laces and slides between the soles to adjust the tension and is then secured by a buckle near the ankle.

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LEATHER COLOR:
This is rather self explanatory. We at Rilleau Leather use vegetable tanned cowhide for the upper soles and straps of the sandals. The colors or tones of leather are as follows: Light Brown; Medium Brown; Dark Brown; Mahogany; and Black

Available Colors:

Light Brown	Medium Brown	Dark Brown	Mahogany	Black
These colors represent scans of actual leather samples. Because of variations in computer monitors, platforms, browsers, and color spaces, these should not be regarded as absolute color references, but only as a relative indication of color varieties.

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SOLE CONSTRUCTION:
The third choice regarding your custom sandals addresses the undersurface of the sandal sole. As described in the introduction to our sandals, the construction of the soles consists of a neatsfoot treated belting leather upper sole which is formed and adhered and glued to a firm soling leather that has been wet formed to the specifics of the individual foot. This lamination gives a nice spring-like, shock absorbing footbed upon which to walk. An alternative option to this approach is the addition of a third sole on the underside…a Vibram rubber soling material. This accomplishes two things: It offers more traction…the classic leather undersole does actually wear longer than the synthetic, but is admittedly slippery under the right circumstances. The other that the Vibram provides is a more cushioned surface to absorb the heelfall on hard surfaces. Another option adds just a heel of the Vibram and leaves the rest of the sole in leather. The thickness of the Vibram heel is 3/16" .

If and when the time comes, either the leather or the Vibram soles can be replaced. Prices for each of these options can be found on the ordering page.

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Foot Tracing Procedure

Click here for foot tracing example with instructions.

POINTERS:

• Use lightweight cardboard (file folder thickness or thereabout). A pencil or pen will do, but if available a "grease crayon" or china marker is better.
• Have the cardboard on a smooth, firm surface. Trace one foot at a time, keeping about two thirds of the weight on the foot being traced. Having someone else do the tracing makes it easier, especially around the heel.

STEPS:

• Keeping the pencil or crayon as straight up and down as possible, trace the outline of the foot. Don't trace between the toes, but do trace a line between the big and second toe as far into the crotch as you can. Please be extra careful when tracing around the heel to keep the pen straight up and down, especially if you're doing it yourself.
• Then trace a line as deeply under the arch as you can, from the base of the big toe going back toward the heel (this is where a crayon can give an easier line to read). The higher an arch one has, the greater the line will be "scooped" or arched.
• Be sure to trace both feet.
• You can refer to the sample tracing listed although of course feet will vary from the example given.

To Place an Order

DECIDE ON:

1. The strapping style
2. The color
3. The option of adding the Vibram soling (adds $50 to cost); or the Vibram rubber heel (adds $25 to the cost)

Write this information in the margin of the tracing board. Include address, phone numbers and e-mail if applicable.

* Make payment as listed in the "payment options" info, making sure to include shipping costs ($15 for each pair). If a money order is used as payment, it can be included in the ordering info and this can then be mailed to:

Rilleau Leather • 295 Bradford Street • Provincetown, MA 02657

Although it would admittedly be quicker, the tracings can't be faxed to us, since that process can often distort dimensions.