Here at Ape, we’re staunch advocates of the understated. Simple garments are versatile, they tend to date gracefully and they’re easy to style. But even we’re willing to admit that the world would be a pretty dull place if everyone just walked around in plain tees and selvedge denim at all times. That’s where the statement brands help to spice things up.

Just as the likes of A.P.C. and Common Projects are known for simplicity and minimalism, there is a crop of labels famed for flamboyance, ostentation and maximalism. These are the best brands for making a statement.

Now let’s make one thing clear. We’re not suggesting that you should go out and dress head to toe in outrageous designer gear. That’s never a good look. What we are suggesting is that incorporating the odd statement piece into your wardrobe can help to bring your outfits to life.

Here are a few of our favourite brands that do statement style better than anyone.

Gucci

Gucci is an Italian high-fashion powerhouse that needs little introduction. Since the appointment of Alessandro Michele as creative director, the label has come to be known for its flowery, androgynous, frilly and colourful aesthetic.

It’s arguably the hottest statement brand in the world right now, counting the likes of Harry Styles, Jared Leto and A$AP Rocky among its celebrity ambassadors.

Shop now at SSENSE

Wacko Maria

Japanese label Wacko Maria was founded in 2005 by two J-League soccer players. It’s known for its in-your-face all-over prints and patterns, which are often animal themed or the result of artist collabs.

There’s a lot of leopard print running through the collection, for example, and the brand has famously paid tribute to NYC artist Jean-Michel Basquiat with a collection of all-over printed shirts.

Expect to see Hawaiian shirts, souvenir jackets, homeware and more.

Shop now at END.

Bode

You might take it as an insult if someone was to comment that your clothes look like they were made out of your grandma’s curtains, but that’s basically the entire Bode aesthetic.

This vintage-inspired brand is built around repurposed quilts, 18th-century tablecloths and other oddly comforting textiles. Founder Emily Adams Bode travels all over to source her fabrics, and her clothing’s distinctive style has made her brand one of the most talked-about in recent years.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Casablanca

If it’s colourful silk shirts and sportswear-inspired designs you’re after then look no further than Casablanca. This French label is the brainchild of Pigalle co-founder and former consultant to the late Virgil Abloh, Charaf Tajer.

The garments tread the line between streetwear, tailoring and sportswear, with vibrant colours and intricate patterns counterbalanced by bright tennis whites. The label’s unique aesthetic has earned it a cult following in the few short years it has been around.

Throw in a sell-out sneaker collab with New Balance and you’ve got a recipe from one of the coolest statement brands in modern menswear.

Shop now at END.

Versace

Italian fashion house Versace is famous for its opulent aesthetic, with heavy use of black and gold running through its designs.

With lots of bold colours, all-over logo prints and maximalist silhouettes, it’s not a label for the faint of heart, but if you’re the type of guy who likes to stand out in a crowd then there are few brands more likely to get you noticed.

Check out the Baroque-print shorts and shirts for a flavour of what the brand does best.

Shop now at SSENSE

Kapital

Japanese label Kapital started out making some of the best jeans in the business, but it has since evolved into a fully fledged fashion brand offering everything from outerwear to shirts.

Denim is still a key part of the offering, but the jeans are often plastered with colourful woven patches and embroidery.

Kapital is also famous for fleece. Its soft, fluffy jackets are often decorated with intricate Damask-style prints, colourful graphics and other eye-catching details to bring them to life.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Story MFG

Foraging for mushrooms in the woods isn’t something we do regularly, but if we did, Story MFG is the first place we’d go for an outfit.

The London-based brand works with India’s best dyers, weavers, tailors and embroiderers to create its oversized, earthy and hippyish garments, which often feature prints, patchwork, tie-dye colours and other bold visual signatures.

Shop now at Farfetch

Burberry

A British brand famous for beige raincoats might not be the first name to spring to mind when you hear the word ‘statement’, but Burberry is just as renowned for its iconic check pattern as it is for its macs. What’s more, it has a habit of plastering it all over everything from baseball caps to trousers, with some head-turning results.

Just be sure to stick to one Burberry-check piece per outfit to avoid going full Daniella Westbrook.

Shop now at MATCHESFASHION

Balenciaga

Under the creative direction of renegade designer Demna Gvasalia, Spanish high-fashion brand Balenciaga has become famous for its outlandish designs, tongue-in-cheek references and maximalist silhouettes.

The brand’s now-iconic Triple S sneaker spearheaded the ugly sneaker renaissance of the late 2010s, the waves of which are still washing over the menswear world to this day.

It’s a brand with statement making at its very core.

Shop now at SSENSE

Rick Owens

LA-based designer Rick Owens is well known for his moody designs and heavy use of black throughout his collections. When you’re working predominantly with a monochrome colour palette, it’s down to the garments themselves to make the statements, and that’s exactly what Owens does with his unconventional silhouettes.

Whether its a pair of platform sneakers or some aggressively tapered drop-crotch pants.

Shop now at MR PORTER