Charli XCX’s Brat, hitting No 2 in the UK album chart and No 3 in the US’s Billboard chart has taken the summer in more ways than one, subsequently paving the way to a stylistic rebellion that has painted the world lime green.
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In what seems to be a direct juxtaposition to the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic, Brat Summer encompasses hedonistic rebellion through an unapologetically Y2K look that can be described as cool girl for the female-gaze. Charli herself envisions a “pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra” as a Brat aesthetic, suggesting that it is what you make it, it’s a look defined by the interpreter, and is therefore un-definable and unique to all.
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In a modern society raised by Bratz dolls and Kesha; edgy, bold looks highlighted in lime green have been long-awaited and Chris Horan, stylist to Charli XCX, is paving the way.
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Club culture streetwear seen on It Girls Julia Fox, Gabbriette, and Chloe Cherry promote a grungy and unmistakenly fun look that speaks out against over-consumerism and performative entitlement through rejecting the notion that wealth = clean = sustainable (and therefore something to desire). The Brat movement instead demonstrates that messy, free, and unique is the key to being unapologetically yourself.
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So how can you look like Josh Safdie’s muse when he wrote Uncut Gems? Brands such as Colour Pop Cosmetics were quick to promote their lime-green products, namely their eye-palette shade Mary Jane, on their TikTok account while other brands Adanola and Kate Spade have also recently showcased their green products to ensure their consumers are ‘so Julia’.
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But what about the basics? While a Brat uniform would not be keeping in-tone with the movement, we could all benefit from broadening our wardrobe to encompass some quintessential Brat style, namely: edgy, square-rimmed sunglasses, a sticky Y2K lip gloss, knee-high boots (ideally worn with ripped fishnets), and most importantly: wearing your attitude high and your inhibitions low.
Written By Isobel O’Connor
