The end of an iconic era: From “brat summer” to “demure” fall
Transitioning from an exciting summer to a mindful fall semester.
The end of summer is a time for us to reflect on all our experiences, good and bad, over the past few months. Whether you were taking summer classes, going on vacation, visiting family, relaxing, or a mix of all these things, I’m sure you’ve interacted with social media in some way. And, if you’ve been following recent trends in pop culture, you are definitely familiar with the terms “brat summer” and “demure”.
Brat summer describes an aesthetic and a certain way of being. It encompasses being slightly “extra”, a bit louder, and genuinely unapologetic for being yourself. The inspiration comes from Charli XCX’s most recent album, brat. Brat summer is a combination of nostalgia, confidence, and inventiveness. It encourages you to be sassy and break away from style norms. Charli’s song “360” has grown to become the anthem for this summer with bold lyrics such as “looking like an icon”. Brat summer embraces the “serving vibe” with fascinating outfits and having fun without caring about anything.
In contrast, the term “demure” was born on August 2, 2024 when content creator, Jools Lebron, posted a video about how to be demure at work. The TikTok quickly went viral overnight with many people instantly jumping on the trend, including NASA. This term means being mindful, calm, reserved, and modest, which is the very opposite of having a brat summer. Being demure allows us to re-center ourselves and focus, which is especially important as we begin the fall term.
I personally began my summer this year going out with friends quite often and just living life, but that vibe quickly died down as I started working again and taking classes. That said, a highlight of my “brat summer” was definitely seeing a performing-arts show after a night out with friends I had just met during a conference in Ottawa—such a core memory! Now, I’m preparing for the fall by reminding myself how to study effectively and develop proper time management skills to balance the many responsibilities I have taken on.
As summer ends, we should not forget how important it is to always be the most authentic version of ourselves, regardless of the time of year. However, transitioning to a demure fall is important to ensure the best success in the year ahead. Some strategies for this include making sure you attend lectures, being mindful of deadlines, staying on top of assignments, and developing your unique study toolkit. Here’s to having a demure fall, so we can enjoy another amazing brat summer next year!
