This year, Charli XCX performed two nights at 2025’s Coachella on April 12th and April 19th. On her second night, she closed with a message stating that it was time for a different kind of summer. She showed her love for fellow artists by releasing music this summer. She gave them a shout-out and stated that it was their summer. But what does this mean, and how has “Brat Summer” impacted us?
Brat Summer Recap
Charli XCX’s album Brat was released on June 7th, 2024, and heavily impacted younger generations of today on TikTok and throughout the world. Brat Summer enhanced the Y2K aesthetic and style, a style revival inspired by the late 1990s and early 2000s, characterized by a bold and futuristic aesthetic. Brat Summer has a whole new aesthetic, however. To put it shortly, messy internet “IT girls” (girls who had no care in how they dressed or acted) were in, while “clean girls” (girls who dressed preppy in mostly light colors and acted properly) were out. Putting the focus on IT girls allowed many girls to show who they really are and to express themselves more freely. “Brat Summer” enhanced the social media population with new dances and styles, and a widely popular trend of wearing lime green. Brat summer may never officially be over, but it is dying down. However, Charli XCX keeps changing her mind. Before, she stated that “maybe Brat Summer is over”, and then, at a recent concert in Brooklyn, she stated, “Wait, I’m Charli. It’s not over.” Brat Summer will always have a huge impact on everyone and will be memorable. Even when it’s over.
So What’s Next?
Now, everyone probably has the same question: If Brat Summer may come to an end, what will be next? Most likely another Charli XCX era as she also makes a statement. This could potentially be with another album or something similar. Another possibility is that Charli XCX gives the spotlight to other artists releasing music this year, as during her closing for Coachella, many different artists’ names flashed across the screen. This could allow smaller, less popular artists to gain more recognition since Charli XCX makes a huge impact on our society. Charli XCX basically opened a doorway for them and allowed her fans to gain anticipation for new music from the artists that were flashed on the screen during Coachella.
While it’s definitely true that Brat Summer was a great influence on the world and how Charli XCX loves making a statement, it’s sad to see that Brat Summer may end. But even if it does, it will make room for even bigger and better things and will forever be remembered. Almost everyone has their own little way that Brat Summer has impacted them. What’s yours?
Works Cited
Walters, Meg. “What Is Brat Summer? The Charli XCX Trend, Explained.” Glamour, 22 July 2024, https://www.glamour.com/story/what-is-brat-summer-the-charli-xcx-trend-explained. Accessed 30 April 2025.
Williams, Zoe. “Brat summer: is the long era of clean living finally over?” The Guardian, 16 July 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jul/16/brat-summer-is-the-long-era-of-clean-living-finally-over. Accessed 30 April 2025.
