No more brat Summer: Gen Z embrace the 'dark feminine energy' trend

As Gen Z leave behind a season of debauchery in the wake of what has been branded 'brat Summer', they're looking for new ways, and styles, in which to continue the rebellious fun.

According to the latest figures from Pinterest searches, young people are going wild for the latest 'dark feminine energy' aesthetic, which embraces a gothic look and helps reveal their 'dark side'.

The fashion trend, which is reminiscent of the intentionally unkempt look of the brat Summer aesthetic, draws on dark grunge-inspired clothes, smudged eyeliner and Halloween-style corsets.

The aesthetic is described as representing individuals' 'darker sides' and is purported to reflect a 'metaphorical rebalancing' of power - and it's backed by the power of ce.

To achieve the look, young people are slipping into tight corsets, lacy garments, latex dresses and leather trousers, to look simultaneously villainous and alluring.

Leaving no stone unturned, the look also requires meticulously smudged eyeliner, dark pouting lips, and rich wine-coloured nails.

Unlike the slightly dishevelled look encouraged by the brat aesthetic, the dark feminine appearance is intentionally glamorous. It's an aesthetic that's meant to shatter hearts with smouldering looks.

The aesthetic is supposed to reveal a darker side to one's femininity, drawing a line under the 'clean girl' aesthetic, which previously dominated Gen Z style.

The trend, which embraces style as much as it does a 'personality', also encourages 'confidence and assertion'. 

The move away from sweet and coquettish femininity is all about embracing suppressed desires and rejecting 'societal expectations', according to one TikTok creator.

At New York Fashion Week earlier this month, designers Luar, Wiederhoeft, Kim Shui, Christian Cowan, and Jason Wu, integrated the trend into their spring-summer 2025 runway shows as they revealed gothic, witchy looking ensembles that align with the aesthetic.

Searching the trend reveals a number of dark feminine icons who have spearheaded the trend with their mysterious and dark aesthetics.

Alexa Demie, Rihanna, Megan Fox and Lana Del Ray are some celebrities thought to embody the dark feminine persona. 

The surge in interest is also likely inspired by the red carpet as pop singer Taylor Swift recently caught the attention of fans after she stepped out in a typically dark feminine ensemble at the VMAs.

The Reputation singer wore a black and yellow tartan corset, paired with long latex sleeves with holes cut up the arms, finishing the ensemble with smudged eye makeup - a look consistent with the dark grunge aesthetic.

Other A-listers popularising the aesthetic with dark moody outfits have been Camila Cabello, Megan Thee Stallion, Lisa, Suki Waterhouse, and Chappell Roan.

Selena Gomez also channelled the dark feminine look at the Toronto International Film Festival, wearing a low cut black sequinned gown with a rose across the chest.

Meanwhile, at the premiere for her new film Beetlejuice 2, Jenna Ortega cut a witchy figure in a corseted tight green dress paired with elbow length black silk gloves.

Searching the trend also yields pictures of a number of characters from film and TV who were seen as villainous femme fatales.

Creative director from the makeup brand, Addiction Tokyo, Kanako Takase told Glamour that the appearance of 'cold glamour and dark elegance', was initially inspired by Bette Davis’scharacter in Madame Sin.

As Kanako explained, Bette Davis' character was intended as a 'cold, evil, and rich criminal mastermind.' 

Marilyn Monroe is another popular choice for Gen Z looking for 'dark feminine energy' inspiration. In the film noir Niagra, the blonde beauty plays a femme fatale, donning typically sensuous but dark looks throughout the 1953 production.

Angelina Jolie's character in the 1999 film, Girl Interrupted also plays a femme fatale with a box cut fringe and ragged, unapologetic looks - one which was embodied by the real life actress at the time.