Charli XCX just made this bougie nail shade one of her brat summer beauty essentials

Unless you live under a rock, most internet dwellers will, by now, have come across the ‘brat summer’ movement hurled into the limelight by the release of Charli XCX's latest album, Brat.

Released on 7 June, with an album cover featuring an alternative slime green background, accompanied by the words “brat” written in a lowercase, sans serif font, that looks like it was typed up by a '90s baby on a Nokia 360, the album hinted at nostalgia, notoriety and nonconformity.

The reception to the album (in which Charli meditates on her mid-twenties: the friendships, fall-outs, raves, anxieties, comparisons, naivety and girl power) has been mixed. Many have praised the hedonism, fun, freedom and inclusivity of an album that encourages partying, exploration, sexuality and zero f*cks given, while others have called out the harmful repercussions of a trend that some see as glorifying sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

But, in an age of “eras” that promote squeaky clean “aesthetics” (such as the Clean Girl), it's turned out to be exactly what many people are seeking. It offers up a grubby counter movement that's heavy on messy reality.

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Since its launch, ‘brat summer’ has become a way of life for a whole fanbase of followers, infiltrating music, fashion and beauty. But what exactly does brat summer beauty look like?

What is a Brat girl?

Giving us the official definition of a Brat girl, Charli XCX explained: “you’re that girl who is a bit messy and loves to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes. She’s honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile. That’s Brat.” Not to be confused with noughties Bratz dolls, this lands somewhere in between glam, grunge and grime.

What are the Brat summer essentials?

Talking to Nick Grimshaw on BBC sounds, Charli broke down the Brat summer essentials. “It can go that way, like quiet luxury," she said, after Nick mentioned: “I saw you on a speedboat. That's quite brat.” But, she continued, "it can also be so trashy. Just a pack of cigs and a Bic lighter. A strappy white top with no bra. That's kind of all you need.”

But, alongside the fashion essentials, we've noticed a theme emerge when it comes to putting together a brat summer beauty look. So we've rounded them up below.

Throwing it back to the noughties nail colour that everyone wore to match their Blackberry, almost-black manis are a core staple of Brat summer. Lucky for us, Charli's manicurist, Steph Stone, shared the exact shade she used to create Charli's manicure – and it's kinda bougie. Chanel's famous black cherry shade Rouge Noir was responsible for completing her black summer beauty look.

Co-ordinating with the slime green album artwork, we've seen an explosion in the neon green pantone, which has been making an appearance across hair and makeup trends, too. To tap into the brat girl aesthetic, grimy green eyeshadow, liner and nails have all become popular.

The embodiment of “I woke up like this” makeup. Brat summer paints a picture of party girls who stay out late having fun, then roll out of bed to go again the next afternoon. Think: smudgy eye makeup that's the antithesis of precise cut-creases and carefully lined lips. It's under-groomed and anti-polished.

Following on from lived-in makeup, slept-on hair is also the moment. Think XXL lengths, hastily applied extensions and wispy ends. Bonus points for natural, mussy texture.

For more from GLAMOUR's Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk

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