Feeling Like Rainbow Brite

Recently, I have been a little bit obsessed with lightweight gauzy trousers for the warm weather season. Apparently, this style is currently trending because I am seeing them everywhere in retail stores, online shops, and thrift stores. And I am having a difficult time resisting them! Some are meant to be worn as regular daytime clothing while others are classified as pajama pants, loungewear, beach pants, or swim suit covers. But their classification doesn’t really matter…pants are pants and I will wear them whenever I want and for whatever purpose I please…lounging, sleeping, walking, hanging, choring, erranding, going out, or staying in.

Over the past few weeks, I have been styling summer trousers frequently including my new white gauzy swim suit cover up pants, my old tan linen blend trousers, my new striped pajama pants, and my newish tan balloon trousers. I also have already photographed some summer outfits featuring red linen trousers, black gauzy swim pants, lightweight chambray baggy pants, and orange preloved culottes, all of which I will be sharing in the coming weeks. Additionally, I have recently bought myself gauzy harem pants in black and pair in dark brown, two pairs of adorable elephant print joggers from the thrift store, a pair of light brown printed split leg harem pants, and a pair of preloved wide legged cropped denim in a bright floral print. My mind is reeling with the unlimited styling options that all of these trousers are providing for me!

Okay, that’s enough about my obnoxious shopping and spending habits. I have too much stuff but playing dress up is one of my favorite hobbies. Like crafters collect and hoard crafting supplies, I collect and hoard dress up supplies! I guess there could be worse things that I spend my money on…like drugs or booze or sex or super expensive designer handbags. But I prefer to give my money to the thrift shops and the occasional retailer when they offer appealing hard-to-resist sales.

While I do try to steer away from cheap, inexpensive fast fashion clothing, Walmart has been making that really hard for me! I have only recently begun checking out their clothing and accessories because it’s where I’ve been doing most of my grocery shopping lately. I generally prefer to shop for groceries at Aldi or the Fort Drum commissary, but they don’t open early enough. For the last few months, I have been ready for the grocery store at 7:15 a.m. right after I drop the kids off at school.

Since Walmart is the only place open that early, it has become my go-to retailer for all sorts of things from groceries to home goods to apparel and footwear. I’ve grown to love my early morning jaunts to Walmart when the store is mostly empty of shoppers except for a few older folks like myself. I can leisurely stroll up and down all the aisles and take my time trying on clothes if the mood strikes. It’s really quiet there that early in the morning and everybody is just a little bit nicer because the turmoil and stress of the day hasn’t gotten to them yet!

The mood to browse at Walmart has been striking me with more frequency than my bank account would prefer. But at least the products are inexpensive. Well, the non-grocery products are inexpensive. It seems like all the grocery items just continue to increase in price week by week. However, now that school is almost over (Archie is finished but Ralph still has to go until Thursday), I suspect my browsing time will decrease while my need for even more groceries will increase for the summer months. Teenage boys eat a lot, y’all!

Anyway, on one of my recent Walmart excursions, I found these fun peach pucker striped cotton gauze beach pants for $14.98. They also come in a gorgeous blue droplet color but they didn’t have my size in the store. I am considering ordering the blue ones as well because they are just so cute and unbelievably comfortable. But I really do not need yet another pair of pants or another article of clothing. Not like that stops me, but I do have to check myself sometimes!

I wore this particular outfit for the drive home from the Oogie’s Ice Cream 20th Anniversary Celebration in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at the end of May. In fact, we took these photos in front of our hotel right before we started our homeward journey.

I paired my new peach pucker pants with an old bright reddish-coral tee shirt and a bold vertical striped kimono shirt in coordinating bright pastels. I have had this bright rainbow topper since last year and I always love to wear it on gloomy days when the mood needs uplifting. I added a newly acquired preloved paisley print scarf in similar colors and my bright pink fedora. For jewelry, I wore a necklace pile including my ivory horn, a green box chain, and a thrifted wooden bead necklace. My earrings are an old pair of flea market tasseled numbers and my white sandals are another recent Walmart find.

Not only is this outfit as comfortable as pajamas but it’s bold and cheerful and very visible. In fact, I have worn this combination a few times this season and have received lovely compliments every single time.

Because this outfit reminded me of Rainbow Brite, I had to share some images of her. The colors of my outfit are more pastel while hers are closer to classic primary colors but the colorful stripes seem to unite the two looks. Actually, my outfit may be more similar to one of Rainbow Brite’s red, pink, or orange friends!

Do you remember Rainbow Brite? She is the titular character from the 1984 Hallmark series who uses her magical Color Belt to bring peace and happiness to the world around her. That same year Mattel released a line of Rainbow Brite dolls and other licensed merchandise. The original series only last 2 seasons with a total of 13 episodes, but Rainbow Brite has undergone six different iterations over the course of her 42 year lifespan. The first three images above show Rainbow Brite from 1984, 2009, and 2014 respectively. Rainbow Brite is still relevant today as she lovingly and creatively uses the colors of the rainbow to bring peace and joy to everyone around her.

So while my outfit might not be an identical recreation of Rainbow Brite’s mini dress and big shoes, it serves the same purpose…to bring joy, happiness, and a little bit of peace to others.

Rainbow Brite once said, “I’m looking for a Sphere of Light so I can make your world beautiful!” 

Well, I guess I’m doing the same!

Do you find that bright colors boost your mood? Would you dress like a rainbow just because it is joyful? Should we all be a little bit more like Rainbow Brite?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee