Welcome back to Fetch Fits! As Brat by Charli XCX took the world by storm, everyone wanted to be a 3-6-5 party girl. Slime green and blurry arial font was everywhere, from phone cases and t-shirts to political campaigns. Everyone from regular influencers to Duolingo mascots were dancing to “Apple.” And of course, fashion journalists scrambled to figure out what it meant to be “brat” and curate lists of essentials, like leather boots and Y2K sunglasses, all easily attainable via an affiliate link.

This mentality of buying into brat summer drew in some heavy criticism from fans. In these arguments, this quote by Charli herself is brought up as a thesis: “It can go that way, like, quite luxury, but it can also be so, like, trashy. Just, like, a pack of cigs, and, like, a Bic lighter, and, like, a strappy white top… That’s, like, kind of all you need.” More conscious consumers advocated for making or buying the style of Brat yourself by going to the thrift store and pulling out your old beat-up Apple headphones.

But of course, things are never that simple. While people initially interpreted this statement as brat being pro-thrift and pro-DIY, Charli didn’t go without criticism in the months that followed. Her merchandise was viewed as overpriced, because while it was on theme with the minimal nature of the album cover, many fans believed that buying a plain t-shirt for forty dollars just wasn’t justifiable. Charli’s collaboration with fast fashion giant H&M also wasn’t viewed favorably and further shifted public opinion on the ethics of Brat summer.

All of this caused fans of Brat summer to wonder what if it was about the messy image curated by the album’s lyrics or the polished fast-fashion and merchandise backed by Charli herself. Many turned to creating their own brat-themed accessories, like bumper stickers, bracelets, or crochet items, or purchasing them from fellow fans on sites like Etsy. But above all, the main narrative pushed was that while donning slime green was fun, to be Brat was a mentality above all else. Brat was about being messy and carefree while listening to your favorite songs, but also being vulnerable, acknowledging your flaws and fears, and showing love for the people around you. So really, as long as you’re true to yourself, you too can be brat.