Brat: A recent fashion, music, and lifestyle trend fueled by Charli XCX and her new 15-track album. From Vice President Kamala Harris’ coconut tree edits to Charli’s “360” being the song of the summer, the trend has taken the world by storm. The “brat” trend defines a person who is brutally honest, poised, and unapologetically themselves in all they do.
Inspired by Y2K and the messy party girl style, the trend embraces rebelliousness, confidence, and playfulness. In Charli XCX’s album cover, “brat” is portrayed through the bold lime green and low-quality underscore font. However, the true essence comes from the traits of a brat person. Achieving brat means accepting the messy and imperfect side of yourself.
Not to be confused with being “a spoiled brat,” Charli XCX’s brat is considered a compliment to your character. Though the label has recently been formed, the brat personality has lived in the Hocka-community for years. Particularly, in these six Hocka-teachers.
Laura Day
Hockaday’s Director of Innovation and Collaboration, Laura Day, works daily to intertwine students and opportunities. Her confident attitude promotes a positive environment surrounding social impact activities. Day has unique ideas that make her “brat” throughout her home and school life, from creating a woman in sports podcast to playing in an adults’ soccer league.
To her, brat means self-confidence. “Somebody that seems to own it or be proud about who they are,” Day said.
“I think, it took a long time to get to where I am, but I am unapologetically myself. I unapologetically dress who I am, the way I am. I have crazy ideas that I say to everyone, and I really believe in myself,” Day said.
Day’s advice to our generation on being ourselves, confident, and “brat,” is to persevere.
“Chase the yeses and ignore the no’s,” Day said. “You can’t get beat down.”
Brittany Pendleton
Physics and Forensics teacher Brittany Pendleton is both a guide and friend to her students, making them feel comfortable coming to her with their problems. Reflecting on why she was chosen as “brat,” she credited time as an aid to understanding herself.
“It’s taken a long time to be comfortable with being myself,” Pendleton said. “I’ve learned things are going to happen to you and sometimes they’re not always going to be the best things, but you have to roll with the punches.”
Citing the song “A-Okay,” Pendleton summarized her “brat” mentality.
“I see lemons coming my way and I’ll be making that lemonade,” Pendleton said. That’s what I’ve done my entire life.”
Jeremy Hays
Drama teacher Jeremy Hays is a multi-faceted artist with roles in numerous movies and TV shows including “The Blacklist” and “The Oath,” as well as Broadway’s first revival of “Les Misérables.”
Hays is known, among many other things for his jaw-dropping production of “SIX” performed by the Upper School and is the epitome of “brat.”
His room features a green plush chair with a sequined Ruth Bader Ginsburg pillow, and although he was not aware of the brat trend, he is a huge fan of Charli XCX.
“I never imagined anyone would think I would wear an all-green jumpsuit and be at Charli XCX’s party,” Hays said. “But hey, the green shirt, my green chair, is very brat.”
Hays defined brat in reference to music genres and ages.
“Brat means hip hop counterculture like almost has a throwback punk, 80’s flair to it,” Hays said. “You can’t try to be brat. It’s kind of something you’re born with, and you just exude.”
Claire Cothren
Claire Cothren is an Upper School English teacher with an endless passion for literature.
She loves to spend time with her sons, read, and watch shows in her free time. Although Cothren has limited knowledge of what “brat” is, she describes it as someone who doesn’t follow the rules.
“Somebody who is rebellious,” Cothren said. “Somebody who doesn’t care about following the norms all the time. Someone maybe a little bit defiant and bold.”
“Aspiring to be brat could be a good thing,” Cothren said. “Especially in a school where people tend to veer toward perfectionism a little bit, that can be so overwhelming, to try to be perfect all the time. Go have fun, be messy.”
Aquinnetta Mims
Aquinnetta Mims, the Administrative Assistant to the Head of Upper School, is a reading, exercising,
and shopping lover known among the students for consistently having perfect style.
Her attention to detail in her outfits coupled with her confidence make her a fashion icon on campus. To her, brat means self-love.
“A woman that is confident with herself, loves herself, and is unique in her own way,” Mims said.
She said that “brat” is a personal journey.
“There’s no need to be anybody else,” Mims said. “You are perfect just the way you are.”
Parker Stoker
Parker Stoker is a freshman English teacher, Writing Center teacher, and assistant rowing coach.
When Stoker realized he was identified as “brat” by students, he credited his fuchsia Stanley tumbler as the defining reason.
Initially, he thought the trend was about bratwurst sausages and it being cool to be bratty. Despite his initial confusion, he quickly grasped the essence of the term and described it as somebody who always has a presence when they walk into the room.
He explained that “brat” is effortless.
“The less you think about it, the more you can do to be it,” Stoker said. “So don’t try to be brat.”
