NEED TO KNOW
- Charles Melton is starring in Coach’s Not Just for Walking campaign featuring the Soho Sneaker, which is inspired by ’80s and ’90s cross-training silhouettes
- The actor bares his abs in the new spot, which is inspired by the shoe’s versatile design
- Melton became a Coach brand ambassador in September 2024
Charles Melton’s got game.
The May December star, 34, may be best known for his dapper red carpet suiting, but in Coach’s latest Not Just for Walking campaign, he’s showing off a more casual — albeit equally cool and very sexy — side to his style in the brand’s Soho Sneakers.
In a mini film lensed by filmmaker Alma Har’el, Melton (who starts off the video strong with a shirtless moment) is seen in a contemporary home, when he discovers paparazzi outside his window. As a distraction, he uses his white Sohos as a decoy, only for him to slip into a backup pair for his next adventure.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“Dynamic, high energy and lighthearted,” the campaign evokes the functionality of the Soho Sneaker, “a shoe made to embrace the many expressions of the wearer’s life,” reads a press release.
The Riverdale alum’s spot continues the Soho Sneaker campaign, which launched in April with singer-rapper Audrey Nuna, model Giovanna Ramos, college basketball player Tahaad Pettiford, WNBA player Satou Sabally and NASCAR driver Toni Breidinger.
Coach’s Soho Sneakers debuted in Coach’s Spring 2025 runway show back in September 2024. And yes, they may have been spotted on the runway — and now on one of Hollywood’s hottest actors — but the shoe is truly designed to be worn anywhere and everywhere — and by anyone.
“Inspired by the cross-training sneakers of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Soho Sneaker reimagines a classic style through the lens of the brand’s distinctive design language,” describes Coach, which will be releasing new colorways and fabric iterations of the shoe.
The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more!
Melton became a Coach brand ambassador last September, making his debut in the Fall 2024 Unlock Your Courage campaign before sitting front row at the house’s New York Fashion Show that month.
In an interview with Esquire, Melton talked about being on set for his first Coach commercial. “The whole environment and the vibe of the days that we spent filming and shooting were very loose and free. I felt like I was allowed to express more of a playful side of myself, which I don’t get to do too often in front of the camera.”
His relationship with the fashion label blossomed when he attended Coach’s New York Fashion Week show in 2022. At the time, he told PEOPLE: “Coach is an iconic brand. It’s been around for so long. And there’s a lot of cool people here. It feels like family.”
Read the full article here
