What is the brat summer that is taking the internet by storm?
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Since its release in early June, Charli XCX’s new album has shuffled the trend cards. Goodbye clean girl, it’s now time for brat summer! But far from being just a simple fashion style, the trend is above all a state of mind. An analysis of a new vision of life and a style that rides the wave of anti-fashion.
What is brat summer?
Before being the hottest trend of the moment, “brat” is primarily the title of the new album by British artist Charli XCX. Unveiled in early June, the singer’s sixth album has caused a tidal wave in streams and more! Indeed, with its acid green cover and pixelated font, the album has certainly not gone unnoticed. Its visuals and the themes of the songs depict a unique universe that has hypnotized the planet.
More than an aesthetic: a state of mind
While the coquette girl and other ballet and tennis core presented themselves as mere fashion trends, brat summer stands out by being much more than that. Indeed, it is primarily a state of mind.
Through her album and personality, Charli XCX highlights a new vision of womanhood. The perfection sought by the clean girl trend is replaced by a quest for authenticity. The brat mood emphasizes the strengths and weaknesses of women, as well as those of a generation. This is what makes it a movement embraced worldwide. The brat girl has a free, rebellious, volatile, audacious, fun spirit; she embraces her wild side, even if it means doing or saying silly things. She goes out and shares her opinions bluntly…
In short, it’s a state of mind that is less about appearances and reconnects with sensations and emotions, with the aim of living youth to the fullest.
The brat: a style that can’t be bought, but lived
Brat summer stands out for its unique character; it can’t be purchased, it is a reflection of the wearer’s vision of life. Nevertheless, the spirit of the movement is described by the artist as someone who can have “a pack of cigarettes, a BIC lighter, and a white tank top without a bra”. In essence, it’s an effortless style that intersects various influences.
Between retro pieces and others borrowed from the clubbing universe, the brat summer girls reinvent the Y2K style with a more provocative edge and a somewhat thrown-together look. While the clean girl sought to be impeccably put together, with color harmonies to look good on the feed, the brat girl breaks free from these codes.
The brat aims to be anti-trend and even plays with the ugly. Notably with its emblem: the green brat. Think of a loud and indescribable green that can be off-putting, yet has a great effect. Yes, against all odds, lime green is even emerging as the new color to adopt! (For a mood looking to stray from fashion trends, it’s a bold move).
The style incorporates eclectic pieces, cuts, and materials—from leather to faded denims, through leopard prints and other transparent fabrics. DIY t-shirts, babydoll tops, micro shorts, and cropped jackets reveal looks that are full of character!
Embrace the brat summer girl trend!
If you’re tired of perfectly put-together outfits adorned with bows and ribbons, here’s our selection of pieces to express your wild side. Don’t forget your flip phone or your Sony Cyber-shot to capture your looks!
Photos: Pinterest
