How to stand out in summer and the subtle art of peacocking

By Jason Basson and Niquita Bento

There's a certain caliber of fashionable man that many refer to as a 'peacock'. Of course, there's another more common variety that lacks the first three letters, and it can sometimes be hard to distinguish the two at face value. 

Both make a lot of noise, however, the former is more skilled in the language of visual statements, while the other – like a turkey – feels the need to make his existence known through a series of really unpleasant squabbles (and general toxic masculinity). 

Don't be that guy, but there's nothing wrong with wanting to use summer and style as an opportunity to stand out. Scroll down for tips on how to upgrade your regular gear, which is the same as showing off a plume of festooned tail feathers. Cacaaaw!

Your Basic Combo: A shirt and chinos.

The Upgrade: A shirt layered with a trucker to give it a bit of edge. Go for chinos with a side stripe or some kind of taping on the leg. Go bolder by following through with the side stripe motif on the trucker, too.

Your Basic Combo: A shirt and formal trousers.

The Upgrade: Unbutton the shirt and layer over a plain white tee. Consider a short sleeve Bengal stripe resort shirt instead of a plain shirt. Accessorize to make it a bit edgier: a cap, cross body bag (worn over the tee, but under the shirt) and sandals. Sneakers will work, too.

Your Basic Combo: Jeans and a white tee.

The Upgrade: Instead of a plain white tee, opt for one featuring a retro sport brand. Toss a lightweight blazer over it to smarten it up. Throw on some ugly sneakers and do a roll up on your ankles.

Your Basic Combo: Board shorts and a tee.

The Upgrade: A printed swim trunk is more modern and certainly more flattering to your legs. Swap the tee for a printed shirt. You'll look more grown up, but still super relaxed. Pair with sandals (not flip flops) and a beachy straw hat for the same effect.

Your Basic Combo: A summer suit.

The Upgrade: Go for shorts instead of formal pants. Opt for a pair featuring a fine micro print that you can echo through the shirt. Swap your dress shoes for plain white sneakers to give the look even more youth.

Your Basic Combo: Jeans and a shirt.

The Upgrade: Go for a light wash denim with an edgy detail, like a side stripe or some distressing. Pair with a loud shirt of some description and wear with sneakers. Take it to the next level by wearing with a bold, colourful cap and matching socks.