Bridget Jones’s Real Baby:The ‘Frazzled Englishwoman’ Aesthetic

As temperatures drop, leaves fall and the release date of the latest Bridget Jones instalment approaches, the ‘Frazzled Englishwoman’ trend makes its annual return to our wardrobes and Pinterest boards. But who is the Frazzled Englishwoman? She’s in her mid-thirties, employed by some kind of publishing or journalism house, laden in knitwear and usually found scraping her unbrushed hair into a charmingly messy updo as she runs late to work for the second time this week. The trend itself, driven by a shared nostalgia for the 2000s festive rom-com genre, puts a cosier spin on classic noughties fashion: baker boy caps, knitted skinny scarves, messy hairstyles held in place by 3 butterfly clips and sheer force of will. Below are some examples of Frazzled Englishwoman style staples, as modelled by the trendsetters themselves.

Kate Winslet as ‘Iris’ in The Holiday (2006).

Pictured: the barely functional skinny scarf, a signature of all Frazzled Englishwomen attempting to survive freezing English winters and the unseasonably hot London Underground simultaneously. Paired with a loose half-updo and some dangly earrings, she is at her most put-together. No matter how sleek and professional a Frazzled Englishwoman is trying to look, a few strands of hair must always fall out and around her face. No slick-back buns allowed!

Keira Knightley as ‘Juliet’ in Love Actually (2003).

The perfect accessory for a truly frazzled Englishwoman is the baker boy hat. Need to hide day 4, dry shampoo-fuelled hair you haven’t had time to wash? This cap is the perfect solution. Departing from the typical wool and tweed material, this hat’s denim finish adds an effortless trendiness to the traditional style. Similar refreshes of this 15th-century headwear began reappearing last autumn - just in time for Love Actually’s 20th anniversary - with new materials including corduroy, suede and (faux) leather. These hats are a particular favourite of mine as the protruding brim provides an extra bit of shelter, which is much appreciated when I’m inevitably caught out by a sudden lashing of rain with no umbrella .

Renée Zellweger as ‘Bridget Jones’ in Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001).

Behold, the paradigm of the Frazzled Englishwoman, Bridget Jones. Despite the actress’  Texan origins, her beloved portrayal of this icon from British rom-com filmography is frequently hailed by Pinterest users as containing the very essence of the Frazzled Englishwoman aesthetic. The fluffy scarf, turtleneck, cosy cardigan and scruffy updo encompass the day-to-day essentials of the Frazzled Englishwoman. My only critique is of the presence of a disposable plastic bag - two decades later, a canvas tote from an independent bookseller or hessian Bag For Life seems more appropriate. No matter how frazzled your various love triangles leave you feeling, there’s no excuse for single-use plastic.

While there is nothing particularly groundbreaking about the core style elements of the Frazzled Englishwoman aesthetic, there is something rather inviting about the grouping of these autumnal classics under the sentimental influence of these 2000s rom-com classics. So don your fluffiest, skinniest scarves with your favourite cosy knits and allow a little nostalgia to influence your style this season.