In Our Shoes: Fall/Winter at Home
The pairs we reach for when the days turn cold.
When the light changes in Amsterdam and the air turns sharper, our routines shift with the season. Coats move closer to the door, heavier glassware returns to the table, and a familiar group of shoes quietly steps forward.
This fall/winter, founders Dennis and Eveline wanted to show you that side of The Hand. Not a perfect wardrobe on a studio set, but Dennis at home in the pairs he truly lives in when the days turn cold. No studio, no sets — just our hallway, our street, our park, and our sofa. The shoes you’ll see here aren’t theoretical “must-haves” – they’re the ones we keep by the door, under the table and in regular rotation from October onwards.
Think of this as an invitation into our home, and into Dennis’s fall/winter shoe rack: seven pairs from Edward Green, John Lobb and Alden that together cover almost everything the season can throw at you.
Building a real fall/winter rotation
A good seasonal wardrobe isn’t about owning dozens of pairs. It’s about a small group that works hard: something weather-ready for long walks, something resilient and smart for the office, something relaxed for evenings at home, and a couple of styles that make you feel quietly well-dressed whenever you put them on.
For Dennis, this rotation always starts with three things in mind:
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Weather – rain, wet pavements, cold cobblestones.
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Rhythm of the week – office days, client appointments, dinners, travel, slower weekends.
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How the shoe feels after hours of wear – supportive, secure, yet easy to live in.
From there, each pair has a clear role.
Edward Green: everyday refinement for the colder months
Dover | London Grain | Dark Brown
For dressed-up evenings and refined days in the city
Edward Green’s Dover is one of those shoes that feels special the moment you lace it, yet never shouts. It’s the house’s signature handsewn derby, made on the classic 202 last with a softly rounded toe and a relaxed, supportive fit. With Dainite rubber soles and Dark Brown London Grain leather, it’s built to handle wet pavements while still looking perfectly at home with flannel trousers or a favorite sport coat.
The apron is hand-sewn with a boar’s bristle needle – a craft that takes more than two hours per pair. It’s a detail you’ll never “need” to explain, but you’ll know it’s there. Dennis tends to reach for the Dover on evenings when he wants to feel a touch more put together: dinners, small gatherings at home, or a day in the city that ends with a glass of wine somewhere warm.
It’s the shoe that quietly lifts whatever else you’re wearing.
Govan | Wax Suede | Iron
For unpredictable weather and off-duty days
The Govan is Edward Green’s idea of a rugged Chelsea boot: practical enough for real weather, refined enough to wear with a wool overcoat. Crafted from waxed suede in the Iron shade, it offers a soft, almost matte texture with the added benefit of being highly durable and practically water-resistant.
Like the Dover, it’s built on the 202 last with Dainite rubber soles, so Dennis knows it will carry him comfortably through a full day – from running errands to meeting clients, or just getting things done around town. Thanks to its classic shape and versatile color, he wears it with everything from denim to heavier chinos and casual tailoring.
If you’re looking for a single, easy boot for fall and winter, this is the kind of pair that earns a place by the door and stays there.
Sandringham | Country Calf | Black
For winter-proof office days and sharper tailoring
The Sandringham is a classic Derby dress shoe, but with a winter twist. Made on the 202 last in black Country Calf, it’s designed to perform in foul conditions. A storm welt helps keep water out, while the Dainite rubber sole gives grip and resilience when streets are wet or slushy.
Dennis leans on this pair when the dress code is sharper – think business meetings, darker tailoring, and days when he wants the look of a traditional black dress shoe without sacrificing practicality. It’s a natural partner for charcoal flannel trousers or a navy suit, and it’s one of those styles you can trust on the kind of grey, rainy days that define much of a Northern European winter.
If your office days don’t stop for the weather, a pair like the Sandringham is a smart anchor for the season.
John Lobb: rugged elegance and relaxed evenings
Highland | Calf | Dark Brown
For cold-weather walks and weekends outside
John Lobb’s Highland is built for adventure in the best sense of the word. Crafted from water-resistant dark brown Dew Hide leather, it combines a sturdy Norwegian welt with a hilly rubber sole for dependable traction.
It’s the boot Dennis reaches for when he knows he’ll be outside: long walks through the park, trips out of the city, weekends when weather is part of the plan. On the foot, the Highland feels reassuringly solid without being heavy, and the rounded, relaxed 322 last keeps it comfortable when you’re on your feet for hours.
Pair it with a tweed jacket, heavy knitwear and denim, or with a long coat and scarf – it’s the boot that makes cold, crisp days something to look forward to.
Land | Unlined | Nubuck | Brown
For slow days at home and relaxed gatherings
The Land is John Lobb at its most relaxed: an unlined nubuck derby in brown, designed to mold to your foot and feel almost glove-like over time. It’s built on the generous, rounded 15 last with a hilly rubber sole, keeping it easy underfoot while maintaining a casual, low-profile silhouette.
While the official description highlights warm-weather strolls and casual weekends, Dennis also enjoys this kind of shoe on milder winter days, relaxed dinners at home, or quiet evenings on the couch when he still wants something on his feet. It’s the pair that blurs the line between “house shoe” and “out in the neighborhood,” worn with soft trousers, cords or even well-loved jeans.
If your fall/winter includes as many slow evenings as busy days, a supple, unlined style like the Land quickly becomes a companion.
Peak | Calf & Grain | Dark Brown
For statement boots that still feel grounded
The Peak brings a slightly bolder energy to Dennis’s rotation. It mixes smooth high-shine calf and textured grain leather in rich dark brown, creating a two-tone boot with real depth. Sculpted on John Lobb’s 322 last, it has a rounded, relaxed shape, paired with a hilly rubber sole and Norwegian construction for stability and weather resistance.
Its “mountain-inspired” aesthetic makes it ideal for days when the weather is unsettled but you still want to feel well dressed – think countryside escapes, weekends away, or casual evenings in heavier knitwear and dark denim. It’s rugged, but never coarse; the finishing and balance of materials keep it firmly in the world of elegant shoes.
Where the Highland is about straightforward practicality, the Peak adds a touch more drama while remaining fully wearable.
Alden: cordovan character for everyday rituals
Longwing | 975 | Cordovan | #8
For desk days, coffee rituals and everything in between
Alden’s Longwing in #8 Cordovan is a classic for a reason. The deep burgundy shade, the way the leather develops a soft, glassy patina over time, and the full brogue detailing all come together in a shoe that feels both substantial and refined.
Built on the Barrie last with a double leather sole, this longwing is comfortable enough for full days at the office yet relaxed enough to wear with denim on the weekend. Dennis treats it as a true “bridge” shoe: something he can wear while making coffee at home in the morning, keep on through a day of appointments, and still feel appropriate in at dinner.
If you like your fall/winter shoes to gain character as they age, cordovan is a wonderful material – and a longwing like this is one of the most versatile ways to enjoy it.
Finding your own fall/winter rhythm
This rotation isn’t a checklist, but a framework: a weather-ready boot, a smart city derby, a more relaxed Chelsea, a couple of rugged options for real cold, and one or two softer, more easygoing styles for life at home.
The goal is simple: when you open your wardrobe on a cold morning, you should see not just beautiful shoes, but clear answers to questions like:
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“What will carry me through a day of rain and meetings?”
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“What feels right for a walk in the park?”
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“What do I want on my feet for a slow evening at home?”
If you’d like help building your own fall/winter rotation, Dennis is always happy to advise – whether that’s in the boutique in Amsterdam or via a video call or email. Bring your questions, your wardrobe, and your climate, and we’ll help you find the pairs you’ll reach for when the days turn cold.
