Back to being Brats

From Pakistan to Hollywood the ‘Brat Summer’ trend is being embraced with open arms

LONDON:

It’s 2024, and we’re all geared up for a “Brat Summer”. The setting? A grungy restaurant where your shoes stick to the floor. The colour palette? A nauseating lime green. That delightful aroma? Probably smoke, chips, and a generous helping of sweat.

Thanks to Charli XCX’s new album — titled Brat, of course, all things pink and Barbie-core are so last year. This is Brat Summer, and it’s feral, chaotic and green. The sleek, clean girl is out (much to the dismay of my minimalist self); the messy, internet It-girlie is in.

Celebrities are eagerly accepting the brat life. The main cast of Twisters, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos wholeheartedly embraced their brattiness with a TikTok dance to Charli’s Apple. Daisy captioned her post, “Caught the lads up on Brat Summer.” Fashion critics have quickly labelled Sophie Turner’s latest looks as “Brat Summer style”, and even Kamala Harris (yes, Vice President Kamala, the now Democratic nominee) is living that brat life. Her official campaign page on Twitter? Totally brat coded. Charli herself gave her the seal of approval, stating on X, “Kamala IS brat.”

The devil-may-care life

So, what is Brat Summer — and, more importantly, why? Brat Summer is an aesthetic and a lifestyle, all inspired by the album — the one with the iconic lime green cover that’s now unavoidable. The album itself is the sonic equivalent of a grimy, sweaty dance floor, with deep beats, manic energy and catchy lyrics. But this feral party girl vibe comes with a side of existential dread.

Brat isn’t your typical feminine ideal; it’s a rejection of the societal pressure to conform. But if it were, it would be a direct backlash against the polished “clean girl” aesthetic. The basic idea is that women no longer have to make an effort, in their appearance or otherwise. It’s a “do whatever you want” summer that is supposed to end with no regrets. Even the album cover — just a plain green background with a blurry, basic font spelling out the album name — screams, “I couldn’t care less.” And honestly, neither should you.

In a TikTok interview, Charli herself explained the essence of being a “Brat” in simple terms: “You’re that girl who is a bit messy, loves to party, and maybe says dumb things sometimes. She’s honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile.” Because who needs consistency and thoughtfulness anyway?

Embracing your inner brat

Karachi-based Zaynah Hussain shares her thoughts on the current fashion style, comparing Brat Summer with previous popular trends. “The brat aesthetic feels way more realistic to achieve than all the clean girl type trends that were so popular two months ago,” she says. “I think that’s mostly because you don’t need the latest lip oil, hair product or home essential to be a part of it. It’s simple. To me it means to unapologetically be yourself.”

So bid that slicked back bun you’d spend the better part of an hour on during rushed mornings adieu, that closet full of neutrals too, and ditch the minimalist life for the brat life. Embracing your inner brat will be easier than you think, after all, the whole point is that it’s effortless. Rummage through your drawers for those chunky sunglasses you switched out for a sleeker pair. Just popping in to do the groceries? Doesn’t matter, permanently attach them to your face. The next step is to forget your hairbrush exists; messy hair is the new slick-back. Go big with the lime green nails and eye shadow, because subtlety is for the weak. If you don’t want to bother with accessories, wrap those retro wire earphones around your neck, because who doesn’t love the ease of a two-in-one?

The desi brat edit

Being your best brat self in a desi community may seem somewhat tricky to execute. How do you say “hot mess” with a wardrobe that consists of pastel kurtas? “I would say focus on your accessories,” says Textile Design student Emaan Hanif. “It’s easiest to use sunglasses which look really good with any desi outfit. Leather shoulder bags work well too. Or maybe you’d rather play around with the green and black colour palette in your clothing. I’ve been seeing more bright greens in stores recently.”

Apart from investing in some pieces that resemble the slime you used to play with as a child, you could focus on brat as a lifestyle rather than a fashion statement. It’s also about accepting your fears and anxieties, being open with them, and encouraging other women to be open with them as well. “It’s about creating an aura of ease around you and these topics — whether it’s mental health or insecurities or a million other things — so that people feel comfortable and fearless about discussing them,” says Emaan. “Brat Summer is about opening your arms to others so that no one feels ashamed.”