Brat vs. Demure

If you were on social media this past summer, chances are you constantly saw the words “brat” and “demure” everywhere on your For You page. The two unusual words each went viral on TikTok and started to define creative movements and eventually even fashion trends. On the surface, the two movements appear to be polar opposites aesthetically. It is easy to accuse the unabashedness of brat clothing and modesty of demure styles of having no overlap whatsoever.

Despite these large differences, perhaps these trends have more in common than what meets the eye.

In the post-Brat summer world, it is hard to look at something neon green and not relate it to English singer Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, Brat. Released on June 7, Brat has become a cultural phenomenon influencing everything from politics to fashion. Charli XCX’s vision for the record emphasized authenticity and honesty, two things often overlooked in a world dominated by social media. So, what is considered “Brat”? Charli uses the word as a term of endearment and argues it represents a carefree mindset of not taking yourself too seriously. Like the singer’s iconic wild spirit, Brat highlights the importance of having fun and celebrating imperfections. However, Brat is not a monolith and comes in many different shapes and forms, especially with style.

After the album's unanticipated widespread global success, Charli XCX enlisted fellow musician and friend Troye Sivan to embark on 21 shows across North America, known as the Sweat Tour. As seen on the Sweat Tour, Charli wore various show-stopping looks, each more daring and exciting than the last. The signature brat look, as defined by Charli, consists of a mix of sunglasses, mini skirts, crop tops, belts, boots, graphics, and layered clothing. While many of her outfits follow some variation of the items listed above, the brat look has more flexibility than other recent trends. At her Los Angeles show, she wore a bright lemon Vivienne Westwood playsuit with a printed scarf wrapped around her waist and completed the look with gold knee-high boots. In contrast, she rocked a sheer gray lace bodysuit, gray fishnet tights, an oversized fur coat, and brown pointed-toe heels in Atlanta. While her looks vary greatly, the common theme among her outfits is unabashed confidence.

Pioneered by Charli, many consider the brat style a bold, unique, and sexy modern revival of the 2000s party girl aesthetic. Many have noticed that current pop stars have turned to the past for the aesthetic inspiration of their albums, and Charli is no different. Another recent example includes Sabrina Carpenter, as many of her outfits reference the pastel and mod looks of the 1960s and 1970s. If you are embracing “brautumn” (brat autumn––the extension of “brat summer”) and eager to add some Brat flair to your wardrobe, I recommend looking at pictures of fans who attended the Sweat Tour. Many fans’ looks feature black pants, mini skirts, and tops with an accessory serving as a lime green pop of color. Some fans also took a more Charli-inspired approach by layering belts, adding scarves, and making custom shirts and jewelry for the occasion.

During the dog days of brat summer, TikToker Jools Lebron posted a video that would define a new fashion trend: demure. Her video about how she chose her outfit and makeup look for work quickly went viral. The “demure” trend experienced a taste of the “brat” effect, as the word swiftly appeared in daily conversation, memes, and advertising almost overnight. As explained by Lebron, the Demure style evokes a kind of subtle elegance achieved by being “mindful” and “not doing too much.” The trend overlaps with quiet luxury, as both champion effortless class and lean more on minimalism than brat’s loud and multicolored look.

While Charli XCX is the face of the brat movement, locating a singular face for the demure trend is significantly more difficult. Examples could include Sophia Richie Grainge and even Meghan Markle. Grainge often resorts to a uniform of button-up shirts in neutral colors with tailored jeans. Sometimes, she wears trench coats and blazers as additional layers to add a classy edge to her looks. Markle’s outfits often follow a similar pattern, as the former royal likes to incorporate cream and beige-colored businesswear into her looks. In contrast to Grainge, Markle also has a popular look template that includes long-sleeved sweaters, satin maxi skirts, and heels, usually in monochromatic colors. Both women excellently utilize classic pieces to create refreshing and polished ensembles.

While some argue that both trends will soon end, I disagree. While people may not say “demure” as much now as they did in August, I think the style it went on to define is so classic that it will remain in some form but likely take a different name. This has already happened with quiet luxury morphing into demure to stay more relevant. Additionally, I think the brat style will continue to live on despite shortening trend cycles since it is so heavily tied to Charli and her music, as well as LGBTQ+ culture. On the surface, brat and demure styles seem to be completely unrelated. However, maybe both can still exist, just in different contexts. For example, the more modest and preppy nature of demure fashion could be a great style option to elevate clothing for the workplace. The bold allure of brat fashion is the perfect look for a fun night out with friends. Both trends have their place, even if they are not worn in the same place. While the two styles could not be more different, we all have a bit of brat and demure inside us.