• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Modest Man

  • .
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • About
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Free Stuff
Home / Blog / Product Reviews

Ascot X Charlie: High-Quality Minimal Sneakers? [2022 Review]

Published on November 25, 2022 by Brock McGoff · Product Reviews, Sneakers May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

Ascot X Charlie have made a name for themselves in the footwear realm, but are their stylish sneakers worth it? Here’s what we think.

Table of Contents

  • About Ascot X Charlie
  • What I Tried
  • Ascot X Charlie Pros
  • Ascot X Charlie Cons
  • Overall Impression
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Conclusion
Ascot X Charlie sneakers review
Check current price

Ever since its founding in 2004 and the subsequent release of the Achilles Low sneaker, Common Projects has been the brand to beat for minimalist white leather shoes.

They’re such a popular option, in fact, that a half dozen or more competitors have popped up with very similar offerings styled after the original Achilles Low.

Being a huge fan of minimalist white sneakers, I’ve been on a mission to test out just about every one of Common Projects’ competitors. Ascot X Charlie is one of those popular alternatives.

In this Ascot X Charlie review, I’ll give you the full scoop on their white leather Soho Sneakers (as well as a bit about the brand’s other offerings).

About Ascot X Charlie

Founded in 2018 by a group of menswear enthusiasts, Ascot X Charlie produces all of their footwear through sustainable factories located in Europe.

Ascot x Charlie logo

They’re aiming for a clean style with all of their designs, with an emphasis on three key brand principles: Honesty, timelessness, and elegance.

While they started with just a handful of footwear offerings, the brand now has more than a half dozen different unique styles and product offerings in a wide range of colors and sizes.

What I Tried

For this review, I specifically targeted Ascot X Charlie’s minimalist shoe: The Soho, in White Nappa.

First, some details: The Soho is made with a full calfskin lining, and has a thick collar with lots of padding. They’re also made with Margom soles (often considered the best soles for high-class sneakers), which are stitched on. 

Ascot x Charlie silhouette

The leather for the Soho sneakers is of good quality, and it feels like a step up from brands like Oliver Cabell. And the shoes are handmade in Italy, which is a nice bonus.

As mentioned before, this shoe is a direct competitor to the Common Projects Achilles Low. And even at first glance, the two shoes are very similar. But how do they stack up when it comes to fit, quality, and pricing? That’s what we’ll explore together in the next few sections.

Ascot X Charlie Pros

Now, for the positives on Ascot X Charlie’s Soho sneakers.

They’re definitely made of premium materials, from the full leather construction to the high-quality Margom outsoles and everything in between. 

Ascot x Charlie Margom outsole

Plus, they’re comfortable — they have a lot of padding around the heel, and even a pretty heavily padded tongue.

Ascot x Charlie collar padding

I really enjoy the styling on these, overall. They have a flattering, narrow silhouette that’s especially good for guys with smaller feet. 

Ascot X Charlie Soho sneaker

And as far as competing with the Achilles Low, their gold detailing is almost an exact match.

So if you like that about Common Projects, these offer a lot of the same quality and details at a slightly lower price.

Ascot X Charlie Cons

So the main difficulty I have with Ascot X Charlie’s Soho sneakers is that they both run narrow and don’t have any options for wide fits.

Ascot and Charlie Soho sneaker

That means unless your feet are pretty slim and narrow, these shoes just aren’t going to fit you. I have pretty narrow feet, and I still had to size up on these.

Besides that, there’s one other thing I have to call out: These shoes don’t feel entirely unique, nor are they offered at that much of a discount compared to Common Projects. If you’re already investing $300+ in a shoe, you may end up just going for the Achilles Low instead.

Overall Impression

So overall, I think the Ascot X Charlie Soho sneakers could be a good alternative to the Common Projects Achilles Low.

Ascot x Charlie Soho
Check current price

The trouble is, this is a very competitive niche — and unless you really like the narrow styling of Ascot X Charlie, there’s probably a better alternative out there for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here we’ll answer the questions we’ve heard guys asking online about Ascot X Charlie.

Where Are Ascot X Charlie Sneakers Made?

All of Ascot X Charlie’s sneakers are made in Europe, with most of them being made in Italy.

What Can You Wear Ascot X Charlie Sneakers With?

The Soho sneakers from Ascot X Charlie are a classic minimalist look, and as such, they pair well with just about anything. You can wear them with jeans and a t-shirt and look great, or pair them with chinos and a button-down for a classier look, or rock them with shorts and no-show socks.

Are Ascot X Charlie Sneakers Worth the Price?

Overall, I’m on the fence about this one. They’re pretty expensive shoes, and they’re not much different from the Common Projects Achilles Low, so I’m not sure that I could say that they’re worth the price.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, I have to admit that I probably wouldn’t want to pay full retail for these shoes. That is unless you really want a very narrow silhouette — but if so, Oliver Cabell also offers a narrow style for a much lower price.

They’re really nice shoes. But are they the nicest you can get for the price? I don’t think so.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!

Product Reviews, Sneakers Ascot X Charlie, shoes, sneakers

Related Posts

Going sockless with leather sneakers
Leather Sneaker Battle: Koio vs. Beckett Simonon vs. Oliver Cabell
Cariuma Leather Salvas Sneakers Review
Cariuma Leather Salvas Sneakers Review
Thursday Premier High Top Sneaker Review
Thursday Premier High Top Sneaker Review 
Oliver Cabell Low 1 white
Hands-On Oliver Cabell Low 1 Sneaker Review: Affordable Luxury?

About Brock McGoff

The Modest Man founder, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his family, discovering new brands and creating great content.

Background: Brock McGoff has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a professional background in digital marketing. He believes that men's fashion is just one facet of self-improvement, and he started The Modest Man to help regular guys feel more confident by improving their appearance.

An east coast native, Brock currently lives in Arizona with his wife and daughter. When he's not working, he spends time with family, training BJJ, reading/listening to books and podcasts, and unsuccessfully trying to decide which movie to stream.

Expertise: Brock has built a men's lifestyle YouTube channel with over 400k subscribers. He's also worked as the creative marketing manager in a men's apparel startup. Brock has been quoted in, mentioned by or featured in publications like Esquire, Huff Post, Men's Health, WWD and Forbes.

More Articles by This Author

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Reader Interactions

Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

Primary Sidebar

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download).

No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Top 5 Favorites for Fall & Winter 2022

  1. Thursday Boots Captain – still the best Goodyear-welted boot under $200 (full review here) 🥾
  2. Matte for Men SPF Lotion – because you should be using moisturizer with SPF
  3. Darn Tough Wool Socks – possibly the best boot socks you can buy 🧦
  4. Hamilton Khaki Mechanical – perfect everyday mechanical watch under $500 (Amazon/Jomashop)
  5. Flint & Tinder Waxed Jacket – great fit, perfect weight for fall 👍🏼

Trending Articles

Men over 40 style

How to Dress Well In Your 40s and 50s (and Beyond)

Fashion brands for short men

Where to Buy Clothes for Short Men (2022 Guide)

Seiko 5 SNK805

31 Great Watches For Small Wrists (Updated for 2023)

Best Business Casual Shoes for Men

Top 8 Best Business Casual Shoes for Men (2023 Guide)

Business casual outfits

The Complete Guide to Business Casual Style for Men

Topics

  • Clothing & Style
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Fitness
  • Product Reviews
  • Dating & Confidence
  • Grooming
  • Men of Modest Height
  • Income Reports

Footer

The Modest Man logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Home • Blog • Resources • Contact • Advertise

 

Privacy Policy & Affiliate Disclosure • Terms & Conditions

 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Copyright © 2023 The Modest Man (Registered Trademark)