Blake Hammerton
Author Archive

Blake Hammerton

Blake Hammerton is the founder and coach at The Sharp Gentleman, and helps men earn more respect while gaining confidence in who they are. He is a certified relationship coach and loves writing about men's fashion, style, character-building, relationships, travel, adventure, and more.

Cooking the perfect steak
CharacterCooking

Cooking the perfect steak It’s no secret that a man who cooks is measurably more attractive in the eyes of those around him. Maybe it’s the way he has a command of the kitchen, or how he makes it look effortless, or maybe it’s because he brings a tear to your eye with how delicious his food truly is. There are a million reasons why this is, but the important thing to take away is you want to be the attractive man in the kitchen. The

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Pairing wine like a boss
Character

There’s something hypnotic about wine. The allure of its flavor tapestry and story are all the more enchanting when it happens to be paired with the right food. The right wine can cause your tastebuds to come alive with each sip, so the flavor of your meal becomes historic. And there’s nothing like having the knowledge on tap to pour a glass that will do the trick. Men all over the world want to have that finesse. You know what finesse I’m talking about – out

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How to fail your wait to the top
Character

Every single grown man wants to be successful. He wants to be the master of his own domain. He wants to be the boss. He most certainly doesn’t want to fail, but this is where the secrets to success are hidden. Your success greatly depends on your ability to surf in the wake of your mistakes. Let me explain. Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. – Henry Ford When you’re afraid to fail, you’re also afraid to move. This

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Suiting: 1-2-3 button jackets
CharacterClothing

How many buttons should my suit have? Which is best? This is a highly contested issue in the menswear arena, so let’s weigh-in on the rules, exceptions, and history of it all in hopes that it may help you figure out what works best for your height, weight, and personal style. You’ll often hear people tell you that the bottom button on any jacket should always remain unbuttoned. Where did this rule come from? Why put it on the jacket if it’s forbidden to use? Answers

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Right haircut for faceshape
Grooming

Not all hairstyles are created equal. No, let me rephrase that. Not all hairstyles are equal when applied to modern man. For example, the faux hawk is a great look, but can be uncomfortably out of place on a man older and not as chiseled as his former self (e.g. Jeff in accounting). Gents with round faces would benefit from square cuts to offset the shape. More on top and less on the sides keeps it clean and sharp. A rule of thumb we’v e

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best at home workout
AdventureCharacter

Let’s be completely honest with each other for a moment. We are full of excuses. The reasons you don’t hit your goals, whether they’re fitness, financial, personal, or professional, is because you’ve got an excuse for everything that gets in your way. You’re not alone. This is why over 70% of new years resolutions involve going to the gym, but three week into January the place is once again empty. The excuses that you can’t afford a gym membership, don’t have the right equipment at

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J. Hilburn Fall Collection
Clothing

There’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to layer when the weather cools off. It doesn’t have to be something you lose sleep over, however. It really can be as simple as the right coat or sweater. It’s never a bad idea to explore how to layer menswear, especially if it’s something you struggle with. First off, let’s get a couple of things straight: Layering is simply combining clothing in a way that’s both functional and fashionable The sweater vest is unacceptable –

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Grooming the Perfect Beard
CharacterGrooming

Look, let’s take a minute and be honest: some good looking men grow ugly beards. I know, it’s a lot like telling beautiful couples that their kids are… well… ugly. How dare I say such a terrible thing, right? Hey, it happens. More to the point, ugly beards are avoidable. There are great products on the market to help tame those unruly whiskers, and help show you how to groom a beard.  And, there are a lot of different places you can turn for stellar

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Death of Manners
AdventureCharacter

I came across this amazing infographic regarding the death of manners, and how modern man is contributing to the slow, painful death of them. As an added bonus, the infographic includes zombies! Zombies, obviously, are the most mannerless creatures around, which made them perfect for giving you something to chew on… Courtesy of: http://www.schools.com I’m sure you know someone that could use this graphic, so please share! You never know, it might be the best thing to happen to the people around him/her.

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Best Budget Watches
Clothing

This may upset a few of the watch puritans out there because we’re actually going to talk about the best budget men’s watches for around $100. Some circles of timepiece aficionados believe a ‘budget’ watch is below $1000, but never less than $500. That’s a wonderful watch budget to have, but we’re going to dip a little lower on the expense report and check out some small to mid-budget watches that give you the look and feel you want, without the additional zero at the

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