As Tologs returned to school, I reminisced about the top 2024 summer trends. Summer is a time for individuals to leave their comfort zones and experiment with the best and biggest trends such as catchy songs, viral TV shows, new fashion, and unique food fads. Here’s a closer look at the standout trends that defined the 2024 summer season.
To kick off the summer, new songs and artists took over the internet.
Charlie XCX’s “BRAT,” album quickly became a viral hit. The “BRAT” summer trend encouraged self-expression and youthful fun, celebrating an aesthetic that blended punk and pop influences.
In an interview Charlie XCX said being a “BRAT” doesn’t mean throwing tantrums and acting poorly; instead, it means having fun, being messy, and separating yourself from societal expectations.
Social media buzzed with #BRATsummer challenges, showcasing fun dances, creative makeup looks, and new fashion hacks.
“The BRAT trend was one of my favorites over the summer. I loved seeing all the different dances people made on social media, and all the different fashion trends that came from it.” Ena Ramsey ‘26 said.
Charlie XCX’s “BRAT” album inspired Vice-President Kamala Harris, whose online campaign embraced the new social media trend. For example, the Harris campaign’s social media posts adopted the look and feel of the “BRAT” album cover. Charlie XCX even went online to say in a post on X that, “Kamala IS brat”. This tweet quickly received almost nine million views – and brought even more attention to the “BRAT” trend.
The “BRAT” trend seems to be continuing during the school year as Charlie XCX is now on her “The Sweat Tour” tour.
Emerging artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan also made headlines over the summer with their catchy tracks and empowering messages.
Their music was characterized by relatable lyrics, resonating with the youth, making them both a staple on summer playlists. Some of the songs that became summer staples included Chappel Roan’s “Hot to Go” and “Good Luck, Babe” as well as Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”.
Tologs shared that they came to love Roan because she is very different from other artists and past trends, making her stand out.
Roan’s ability to dominate on stage was noticed by festivalgoers, bringing more attention to her. She also has a unique style, with drag being the center of her fashion inspiration. Her expression of individuality, specifically with LGBTQ+ matters, connects with young fans.
“I like Chappell Roan because she and her fashion style are the polar opposite of last year’s clean minimalist fashion trends.” Mercy Bruchey ‘26 said.
Next comes the global phenomenon of Love Island USA. When the new season premiered in various countries, viewers were glued to their screens, eagerly following the contestants’ romantic escapades.
“I loved watching Love Island and I love reality TV.” Juliette Smith ‘26 said.
The impact of Love Island was also seen on social media, where Tologs saw fans share their favorite moments and quotes.
“I loved going on social media and seeing all the funny edits people made about Love Island moments, it was one of my favorite summer trends.” Emma Dolan ‘27 said.
Love Island reached #1 across all streaming platforms quickly. This was because of a thriving new cast, a new host, and an active presence on social media. All of these things contributed to Love Island’s success.
New fashion trends, including the viral cheetah print and new samba shoes, emerged during the summer. Through social media, individuals experimented with the print in various ways.
“I enjoyed seeing all the cheetah trends on TikTok and how people experimented with the print,” Ramsey said.
The cheetah print emerged in the ‘90s and is back to stay for the 2024 season. In the ‘90s the print stood as a symbol of extravagance which seems to be why it’s having such a major revival.
Lastly, new summer food trends were taking over people’s kitchens. Many enjoyed the viral “cucumber trend,” where social media users embraced cucumbers in unexpected ways, from salty cucumber salads to salmon avocado versions.
“I tried the original cucumber salad during the summer and became obsessed. I still have it for lunch at school sometimes too.” Grace Fuller ‘26 said.
Summer 2024 ended up being a season rich in pop culture references and fun trends. From the carefree vibes of “BRAT” summer to the engaging narratives of blockbuster films, this summer invited everyone to embrace fun, creativity, and self-expression.
Whether you were dancing to Chappell Roan, binge-watching Love Island, or experimenting with the latest cucumber recipes, there was no shortage of fun in the summer season.
