What Is Brat Summer?
Brat summer is a cultural movement and vibe defined by messy, unapologetic, party-girl energy. It's about embracing chaos, not caring what people think, going out too much, and living in the moment with zero regrets. Think: dancing on tables, texting your ex at 2am, and choosing violence — but aesthetically.
The whole thing is wrapped in a specific visual identity: lime green (specifically Charli XCX's album cover green), lowercase text, and a deliberate rejection of the "clean girl" polish that dominated before it.
Where Did Brat Summer Come From?
Brat summer originated from Charli XCX's album "Brat," released in June 2024. The album — with its lime green cover and lowercase font — celebrated messy femininity, partying, insecurity, and authenticity. Charli herself described a brat as: "that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes."
The album was SO culturally dominant that "brat" became a whole identity. Even Kamala Harris's presidential campaign got called "brat" — that's how far it reached.
How to Use Brat Summer
- Identity: "I'm having a brat summer — no plans, no rules, no regrets."
- Aesthetic: "This is very brat" (referencing lime green, chaotic energy)
- Justification: "I texted him back. It's brat summer, I don't make the rules."
Examples in the Wild
"brat summer means I can make any bad decision and it's technically a lifestyle choice"
"my brat summer consisted of three concerts, two bad decisions, and one legendary night I'll never fully remember"
Why It Matters
Brat summer was a rejection of perfection. After years of "that girl" morning routines and clean girl aesthetics, brat said: what if we just... didn't? What if we were messy and that was okay? It was permission to be imperfect, to party, to not have your life together. In an era of curated perfection, brat was the antidote.