Has anyone else noticed this? If I'm looking a little out of place (by which i mean wearing a cowboy hat or something obvious, not just being well dressed) and approach, I generally get a far more receptive reaction to "Hey, can I ask you guys something?" than if I'm not. Without it I'd get a "uhhhh.. sure". Sufficiently peacocked and I tend to get a "Yeah" with a smile.

Now perhaps it's a frame of mind thing and I *think* I'll do better so my approach is more confident. Lucky charm effect, etc.

But I'm not sure. From a psychological point of view, I think I can understand it. It spikes their curiosity ("Why is he wearing that hat, perhaps I can find out"). I feel looking unusual lets met get away with more. Again it's probably just a frame of mind thing...

Same thing with magic tricks. For some reason:

No peacoking + magic tricks = mediocre reaction
Peackocking + magic tricks = good reaction

it's as if "Oh he's allowed to do magic tricks because he looks the part" type thing. Somehow peacocking validates it. Because I look a little strange, I can get away with acting a little strange without having it questioned.

So, is it my frame of mind, or is there a connection here?

Your look is congruent to your magician styled approach so helps create the SPAM of mystery and intrigue.
Ive found there are both positives and negatives to peacocking a few examples on the positive side: as soon as you step out of the house with some sort of peacocking you push your comfort zone so by the time you get to the sarge location your already in a good who gives a sht, fun kind of state ,you can also lock your target in by putting the hat on her head or cheap necklace,bangle etc and kinda ignoring the target but befriending her friend etc..
On the downside some peacocking dosent hit the spot and can be a little tryhard to some girls who are not peacocks and also for the older blokes who are late 20s it can seem like an old guy trying to be younger and compete with the younger styled guys instead of showing more of an aged higher social status to attract the girls into their world.