Charli XCX’s hyperpop album “brat” is everywhere right now, from dance routines on TikTok to fueling the Gen-Z push by Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign . But being brat is more than just flooding social media feeds with images using the album’s now iconic neon green color and simple Arial typeface — it’s a mindset. Still don’t get it? Here’s a quick explainer, plus five suggestions for how to have a brat summer in Boston.
For TikTok’s “ Off The Record ” series, Charli XCX described brat as a “girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes.” She went on to explain that brat is also someone who “feels herself and then maybe has a breakdown, but kind of parties through it, is very honest, is very blunt, a little bit volatile.” Advertisement The trend is a bit chaotic and amorphous, a sassy paradox that advocates for embracing both the glamorous and messy sides of people.
In his viral video on brat, TikTok user Reuben Woodall explained that the phenomenon is “everything and nothing at the same time” and “encompasses so much of the human experience.” “Getting ghosted by some guy and then going clubbing to deal with it? Brat summer,” Woodall said. “Getting an iced matcha latte and being emotionally vulnerable with your friends? Brat summer.
” And while brat has drawn some criticism for its messy aesthetic, along with some of the album’s lyrics that allude to partying and club drugs, at it’s core, the trend is really all about embracing your authentic self. Nostalgia is brat, and what is more nostalgic than dancing like you are at a club in the early 2000s? “When I go to the club, I wanna hear those club classics,” Charli XCX sings on her new album. “I wanna be blinded by the lights.
” Grab some friends and live out the club fantasy of partying all night at some of the best nightlife hotspots in Boston and beyond like Club Café, which regularly offers themed party nights like Y2K and even dedicated a recent evening to celebrating the music of Charli XCX. Advertisement Brat summer is a time for scavenging for stylish pieces that go beyond the latest trends and embracing outfits that you like, regardless of what people think. “Kind of like quiet luxury, but it can also be like trashy,” Charli XCX explained in an interview with BBC.
If you really want to channel the pop singer’s vibe, the English star also told the outlet that a brat outfit might include “a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter, and a strappy white top with no bra.” And if you are feeling inspired and want to experiment with your fashion this summer, try thrifting at Vivant Vintage , Vico Style , and other secondhand markets around the area. Extra points if you find vintage Von Dutch to match the ”brat” song .
Brat summer is a time for healing, as bottling up bad feelings is definitely not brat. If you have beef with a friend and have drifted apart, reach out to them and work it out like Charli XCX d id with New Zealand singer Lorde. “You told me how you’d been feeling, let’s work it out on the remix,” the reworked version of their song “ Girl, So Confusing ” declares.
“And when we put this to bed, the internet will go crazy.” Spending time with old friends and rekindling relationships that have frayed are best paired with a nice meal and a drink at a hip-yet-quiet restaurant. Try Urban Hearth, Alcove, or one of these other spots around town that are perfect for deep talks and finally putting drama to rest.
Advertisement Add a little brat into your morning routine and opt for a matcha drink instead of the usual coffee or latte. Matcha beverages are made of green tea powder and readily available, even at Dunkin’, which offers options for iced, frozen, or hot versions of the drink. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, Matcha Cafe Maiko near Fenway offers matcha ice cream in addition to its drink offerings.
For a more adventurous option, Motto offers a sparkling rendition of green tea, available in several retail stores in the Boston area. To be yourself, whatever that means to you, is the most brat thing to do. Whether that means taking a walk down the Esplanade or the Boston Common, or staying home all day to watch TV, do what makes you happy.
“ Everything is romantic ,” Charli XCX sings on the album, so don’t forget to take in the small things and appreciate them, even if it is just “bad tattoos on leather-tanned skin” or “lemons on the trees and on the ground.” Maria Jose Gutierrez Chavez can be reached at mariajose.gutierrez@globe.
com ..
