Rainbow Brite Costume
Spread color and 1980s nostalgia in this vibrant, cheerful rainbow look.
Step back into the 1980s as Rainbow Brite, the beloved franchise character who protects the world's color. This cheerful costume is instantly recognizable by its bright blue dress, rainbow-striped sleeves, and signature star cheek makeup. It is a popular choice for retro parties, Halloween, and cosplay events.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–90
Try it on
See yourself as Rainbow Brite
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Rainbow Brite costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Rainbow Brite costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Blue suspender dress or tunic
A bright royal blue short dress or tunic with a white-trimmed V-neckline and red suspender-style straps.
DIY: Use a plain royal blue dress and fabric glue to attach red ribbon straps and white felt trim.
Rainbow striped sleeves and leg warmers
Puffy, segmented sleeves and matching leg warmers featuring horizontal stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue.
DIY: Sew together horizontal strips of colorful felt or jersey knit fabric into tubes.
Purple belt with a yellow star
A wide purple waist belt featuring a large yellow star emblem in the center.
DIY: Cut a strip of purple felt, attach Velcro to the back, and glue a yellow felt star to the front.
Red hair bow
An oversized bright red hair bow attached to a headband or hair clip.
DIY: Fold stiff red satin ribbon into a large bow and hot glue it to a plain headband.
White high-top sneakers or boots
Clean white athletic shoes or ankle boots to wear under the rainbow leg warmers.
DIY: Use any plain white shoes you already own.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Rainbow Brite costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the royal blue suspender dress or tunic as the base layer.
- 2
Slide the rainbow-striped sleeves onto your arms, positioning them securely on your upper arms.
- 3
Fasten the wide purple belt around your waist, centering the yellow star emblem.
- 4
Pull on the matching rainbow-striped leg warmers over your calves.
- 5
Put on your white high-top sneakers or boots, pulling the bottom of the leg warmers slightly over the shoe tops.
- 6
Style your hair into a high ponytail and secure the oversized red bow at the base.
- 7
Apply the signature star makeup on your right cheekbone.
Makeup & hair
Pull hair into a high, bouncy ponytail secured with a large red bow. On your right cheek, draw a small, bright yellow star using face paint or cosmetic eyeliner, outlined in blue or purple if desired.
Rainbow Brite for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Twink (the white sprite) or Kismet the horse.
- group
- Group up with the Color Kids like Red Butler, Lala Orange, and Buddy Blue.
- kids
- A blue tutu dress with rainbow striped tights and a red hair clip makes a comfortable kids' version.
- Plus size
- Choose an A-line blue dress with a stretchy waistband and use elastic-free rainbow leg warmers for comfort.
- pet
- A small blue dog t-shirt with a rainbow collar and a tiny red head bow.
Tips
- For outdoor events, wear white or nude tights under the leg warmers to stay warm.
- If the sleeves slip down, secure them to your dress straps with small safety pins hidden inside the fabric.
- Keep your makeup bright and cheerful with pink lip gloss and light blue eyeshadow to match the 80s aesthetic.
Rainbow Brite costume FAQ
- What does Rainbow Brite wear on her face?
- She has a small, simple yellow star printed or painted on her right cheekbone.
- How do I make the puffy rainbow sleeves?
- You can sew segmented tubes of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue fabric together, or buy pre-made rainbow arm warmers for a quicker option.
- What shoes should I wear with a Rainbow Brite costume?
- Simple white high-top sneakers or white ankle boots work best, as they are covered by the colorful leg warmers.
Did you know? Rainbow Brite was introduced by Hallmark Cards in 1984 before starring in her own popular animated television series and movie.