Summer is always a special time, but the BRAT summer is so much different.
Brat by Charli XCX is undoubtedly one of the biggest pop albums of the year. The bumping hyper-dance-pop album seems to touch on every dimension of Charli’s persona. The album is both diverse and concise, covering everything from the ‘360’ party girl vibe to womanhood, vulnerability, and generational trauma, all delivered through complex production, rebellious lyrics, and a seductive vibe.
But Brat has more things to offer than just music. The album and its visuals, characterized by the “ugly” lime green (now dubbed Brat green) and the Arial font, have inspired TikTok dances, memes, and fashion trends, all of which culminated in the creation of a new term: Brat Summer.
From day one, the minimalist album cover captured the internet’s attention. The album’s cover art features the word “Brat,” written in low-res Arial font on a lime green background, seems to mimic the aesthetic of fan-made lyric videos that circulated on YouTube in the early 2000s. While being initially criticized as “lazy,” the Brat aesthetic quickly took over the internet, signaling the birth of a new cultural phenomenon.
While the term “brat” is often associated with a badly behaved child, Charli has given it new meaning. In an Instagram post on June 8, Charli XCX described the album’s attitude as “me, my flaws, my f— ups, my ego all rolled into one.” She further elaborated on the meaning of “brat” in a TikTok video:
“You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party, and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. She feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But, kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile, like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.”
In this context, the word “brat” refers to unapologetic boldness, hyper-confidence, with a hint of sassiness and humor – aligning perfectly with Charli’s public persona. In recent years, Charli has embraced the image of an anti-pop pop star, shattering expectations of how female artists should sound and look.
As the album gained major publicity, the “Brat green” quickly established itself as the color of the season, accompanied by the emergence of the Brat fashion aesthetic. In an interview with The News Movement, Charli described the Brat fashion as: “It can be like, so trashy. Just like a pack of cigs and a Bic lighter. And like, a strappy white top with no bra. That’s, like, kind of all you need.”
The brat aesthetic stands in opposition to the “clean girl” trend that dominated viral fashion in 2022. It represents how a party girl looks—with sweaty hair, smudged eyeliner, messy, grungy clothes, and a splash of Y2K inspiration.
But perhaps the most transcendent moment of Brat Summer was when it touched on Vice President of the United States: Kamala Harris.
Shortly after President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election, Charli XCX showed her support for Vice President Kamala Harris with a comment on X: “Kamala is brat.” The post quickly escalated into a meme storm that spread across the internet. Kamala’s campaign team quickly embraced the brat memes by changing the Kamala HQ campaign account on X to mimic the album cover art. The team event posted a slideshow inspired by the brat aesthetic on Instagram, including a screenshot of Charli XCX’s original post.
“And when we put this to bed, the internet will go crazy,” the post’s caption read.
Despite the album’s phenomenal popularity, some speculate that the trend is starting to slow down as summer ends. However, Charli shows no signs of stopping. The singer is set to co-headline Troye Sivan’s North American tour, “Sweat.” Even if Brat Summer has passed its prime, there is still great anticipation for Charli XCX and her next album.
