The NYLON Guide To Brat Summer

If you’re chronically online, you already know summer 2024 is officially brat summer. On the surface, that means wearing less and going out more, embracing a general disheveled-but-on-purpose vibe and, above all, making like the weather and getting very, very hot.

It’s a good ass time, but if you peel back its slime-green layer, you’ll find that it’s also rooted in something we all could use more of right now: a shameless sense of freedom. Take Rizz, for example: It’s a buzzy new app that that lets anyone play matchmaker. Flirty conversations are open to the public (or at least your chosen council of friends), which gives it a scandalous and proudly messy vibe.

The app is popping up in summer hot spots like The Surf Lodge in Montauk where they passed around "We Think You're Hot" business cards, NYC Pride where their drag queen partners handed out much-needed clack fans, and even during the big games in Paris where they had competing athletes on the app. If brat summer lived on your phone, it would definitely be in this addictive app that encourages you to get together — with your friends, with your crush, without regrets.

Whether you explore brat summer with your mindset and a series of fun, flirty, and slightly messy romances courtesy of Rizz, or via your style with an enviable rotation of low-cut denim and constantly smudged eye liner, jumping headfirst into the movement might just give you the summer you’re looking for.

Below, we’ve put together the starter guide to your very own brat summer in all its real, messy glory.

The Brat State Of Mind

Before you get into peak brat mode, you’ve got to get comfortable with putting your most shameless self forward. Think: being the drama, embracing the chaos, and doing it for the plot. If that’s the energy you’re looking to inject into your life — especially if your first order of business is building out your summer roster — Rizz is the easiest, messiest, most fun way to dive into the spectacle of it all.

Rizz is an app where dating is as carefree and no-fucks-given as you. Forget the expectations, it’s all about the memories. Date on a stage or get a front-row seat to everyone else’s dating life (your bestie, nemesis, secret crush, or that ex you love to hate). And for those of us who send screenshots of our app convos to our friends (hi, everyone), Rizz is about to launch a first-of-its-kind feature that lets you invite your group to watch and react to your conversations with your Rizz matches in real time. Don’t worry, your crushes won’t see a thing, but you’ll get to see all of your friend’s takes as they give them. The feature is the exact opposite of wallflowering and is the perfect springboard for diving headfirst into your personal brat era.

How To Get The Brat Look

Now that you’ve got the attitude down, it’s all about presentation — aka doing the most while wearing the least. From fitted tanks paired with low, baggy jeans to the resurgence of the barely-there going out top and hot pants, there’s no wrong way to dress brat. And since you’ll be partying ‘til the wee hours, you’ll need makeup that lasts. Eye paint with staying power in a shocking shade is easy to swipe on in the back of the car on the way to the club. Or, take advantage of the Y2K resurgence with glossy lined lips and a smokey liner that looks even better smudged the morning after.

Living The Brat Lifestyle

Brat summer extends far beyond your clothes and your level of unbotheredness — it’s also about finding the fun in being yourself, even when that self is a little all over the place. And if you’re looking for ways to inject that energy into your everyday life, we have a few ideas:

• Go All In On Everything: There’s no “getting tired” and “going home” when there are places to be and be seen, so you want to make sure you’re prepared for anything: hit the club with a snack in your purse, pack a compact rechargeable fan for late, sweaty nights and always, always stay hydrated.
• Be Unreachable: Intrigue breeds interest. If your phone is dying, let it die and be unavailable. Want to scope out the scene under the radar? Wear sunglasses inside just because you can. Got your eye on someone at the party? Forget trading numbers or social profiles — pull up with a business card and leave an impression.
• Have An Audience: Life’s a stage and you are the star, so act like it. Date in public on Rizz, and command attention by wearing whatever the hell you want — whether it’s throwing on a quick press-on mani before running out of the house or turning a full-on look with your favorite body part (or parts) on display.