Shop Girl x Rat Boy Summer

Crushing on skinny white boys on the internet is an age-old tradition dating back to early Tumblr days. 

It single-handedly propped up the careers of The Arctic Monkeys and led to the resurgence of my favorite cinematic white boy-- Jeremy Allen White. 

This has been such a popular trend that Summer 2024 was dubbed “Ray Boy Summer.” 

And honestly, we should bring it back. 

More on the “Rat Boy” (assuming you didn’t read the Mens Health article linked above): 

These men are aesthetically malnourished. Think: lanky frame, haunted eyes, thrifted clothes that probably smell like Marlboro Reds, and a face that says, “I may or may not have rabies, but I definitely have opinions about shoegaze.”

I wouldn’t say this archetype is conventionally hot—but that’s the point. 

This isn’t abs-and-surfer-guy season. It’s “forgot to shower but can quote Murakami” season.

It’s giving "if a Wes Anderson character got dumped and started a band." 

So in an effort to help along the resurgence of #RatBoySummer - I wanted to prep all the indie girls who may encounter these white boys de jour. Here’s a list of items to indulge in or gift to the indie rock listening, “cinema” watching, skinny boy in your life.

I’ve broken it down into three main categories:

  • Film Merch (because that’s almost certainly what they want to mansplain)

  • Performative Jewelry (which indicates their soft bisexuality)

  • Ironic Apparel (since that’s all they seem to wear)

Prianna Pathak