The brat summer trend led by Charli XCX
Jul 31, 2024
Every summer, a new trend comes around to define the year. Thanks to English pop singer Charli XCX and her new album, 2024 is the year of brat. Abby Li runs you through everything you need to know about the brat trend and where it all started
Charli XCX’s recent endorsement of US presidential candidate Kamala Harris with a declaration on social media that “Kamala IS brat” directed Gen Z and Millennials eyeballs on Harris with over 100 million views on TikTok alone under the hashtag #KamalaHarris.
It all began with XCX’s groundbreaking album, brat. The neon green minimalistic design, confrontational lyrics, and electrifying club music helped the record to reach No.2 on the UK album charts when it was released on June 7. Soon, brat turned from a stereotypically negative word to become the current ‘It Girl’ buzzword.
“That girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes”, the singer explained. Brat is at its core, a chaotic energy and attitude that XCX projects. It also refers to the album campaign’s signature pop of green colour, a casually messy aesthetic, and the determination of partying through heartbreaks and beyond.
After Charli addressed Kamala Harris, the US presidential candidate, as brat, the word also gained a political attachment. Now, not only could we see green backgrounds everywhere online and offline, but also on Harris HQ’s X profile. Her campaign has fully embraced the hottest trend among young people.
What made brat and Charli XCX the center of attention this summer? It’s undoubtedly the genuineness that her work radiates. “I always tell my friends that Charli is the only artist who writes relatable music because other artists are either too sad or create this character of being hurt by their lovers etc. But Charli is the heartbreaker and she’s not ashamed to be one. I can really relate to that,” said Anfisa Aleksejeva, a fan and a student in France and Hong Kong. She has changed her social media profile pictures to light green with black typography in that distinctive brat style. For Aleksejeva, brats are always “living in the moment, showing vulnerability through uniqueness, and moving on quickly like the main character.”
And the fans are not wrong. XCX wrote on her Instagram that this album is all about “me, my flaws, my f— ups, my ego all rolled into one.” The conflicted connections with other artists, the problems in her relationships, and the challenges she faced in the brutal industry are stories she would text her friend, as she said in a recent interview. Her authenticity has resonated with her largely Gen Z audience, who grew up in a bubble of social media posturing.
Also see: Celebrating Barbie’s life in plastic
Hanna Vanharanta, a Hong Kong-based Gen Z YouTuber, believes that Internet trends like this blow up because it strikes a chord with many. “Every trend excites people in different ways! At the end of the day, every story has its audience, and it’s only natural that people are drawn to different ones,” says Vanharanta.
As a local content creator, Vanharanta noted that while brat has been a big thing in international media, it’s not as prevalent in Hong Kong yet. But as we’ve seen with previous culture shifting pieces of work, an artist can influence the audience inside out. As fans embrace the brat attitude, it influences their fashion preferences too.
“A strappy white top with no bra” is what XCX herself has suggested as the centerpiece of brat style. To fully look the part for a brat summer, there are also some more elements you could add to your fits: a pair of leather knee-high boots, some dainty jewellery, black but fun-shaped sunglasses, and finally smoky yet playful makeup.
But the key element here is the sickening shade of neon green to tie it all together. From tinting your social media in that hue to big purchases like furniture, you get to pick your level of brat by how much green you incorporate.
Photo: YouTube @officialcharlixcx
The style trend of brat this year draws comparison to last year’s hot pink Barbie theme. There are certainly parallels: pink versus green, embracing femininity versus accepting one’s inner chaos, being plastic fantastic versus being open and vulnerable. Yet, they seem to be on completely different ends of a spectrum.
On the way to your ideal life, some choose to present a perfect front to the world, there are others who prefer to chaotically party through their problems. No world can operate with just Barbies or just Bratz dolls, there’s room for all kinds in this world. This summer though, it’s all about being a brat.