Charli XCX has given us the album of the summer with Brat, and put a brand-new trendy aesthetic on the map along the way. Everyone seems to be talking about “brat summer” these days, but what is this craze all about and how can you pull it off?
“Brat summer” borrows its name from Charli XCX’s latest album Brat, which gave us several viral hits, including “360”, “Apple”, and “Girl, So Confusing” ft. Lorde. Its lime green cover became a viral sensation before the album was even released, and this color is now the cornerstone of the “brat summer” craze – but it’s not the only one.
Charli XCX explained what it means to be a “brat” in one of her TikTok videos, saying, “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile.”
Messiness is at the very heart of the “brat summer” trend, so it’s not easy to pin this trend down unless you’re doing it authentically since it can mean different things to different people.
At its core, this trend is rooted in Y2K nostalgia and party lifestyle, while still having a polished edge to it. You can nail this vibe by rocking leather and lime green, but dark statement sunglasses, messy hair, a smokey eye, and long lace-up boots will also help you pull this trend off.
