You’ve seen it everywhere, lime green, Arial font, the party girl lifestyle, but why? Well, it’s “Brat Summer.” The lifestyle term that’s been taking over social media apps like TikTok because of its relatability and “unapologetic pettiness,” doing what you want and not caring what others think, as said by People. 

You can’t have “Brat Summer” without “Brat,” Charli XCX’s sixth studio album that debuted #3 on the Billboard charts. The album contains “summer anthems” according to Women Wear Daily. Its songs are all over social media, night clubs, and the radio. There’s been TikTok dances to the song “Apple,” and boiler room sets to songs on the album. This isn’t the first time Charli XCX has had major hits. Sophomore Lauren MacVaugh-Howe has been listening to Charli since “literally 5 or 6, when she came out with ‘Boom Clap,’ that was my childhood song.” 

The term “brat” according to Charli means “You’re just that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes.” It’s also “honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile.” For Lauren, being “brat” means “to do what you want and don’t let anyone tear you down.” 

 Fans of the album created the term “Brat Summer” that has to do with partying, Von Dutch and womanhood.  It’s being trashy and unbothered. There’s edge, Y2K style, and somehow also refinement. There’s TikTok dances, memes, and fashion trends- all because of “brat summer.” There are 41.2k posts with tag #bratsummer. 

Because of its popularity, “brat” and “Brat Summer” were met with people who said its downfall was coming. There’s been things to keep the album popular, for instance tons of remixes on the songs, but Charli decided to respond herself. Not only did she post the headlines for articles saying Brat Summer was ending, but she posted to X that “Brat summer is only the beginning:)” 

This summer of brat was a way for people to find their true sense of self without being judged by others. You could be careless and focus on yourself. By being brat you aren’t sassy or mean, now you’re “unapologetically petty.”