A Closet PURGE *and also some mending*

You really should do a dressing up video with those "what if scenarios" tho, it'd be PEAK entertainment.

"As I'm getting older, I want my skirts to be swishy, my sleeves to be extravagant, and my pockets to be real." And "We don't have time for dresses we can't eat snacks in" This woman speaks for us all!

Hi Rachel! I do a lot of dyeing for a large theater company. A few pointers: always soak the "to dye" stuff in cold water first, use dawn dish soap in the dye bath (between soaking in cold water first and the Dawn it helps the dye take evenly), don't skimp on the salt or vinegar, you can test what the color will be by dipping a paper towel in the dye bath. That helps when you're mixing dye to get a custom color. For instance, I'm dyeing 4 large curtains a special sage green and need all 4 dye baths to be the same green. I use the paper towel test first, then scraps of the curtains to make sure it will be what the designer wants. Check on your dye every 5 minutes or sit there like a witch minding over your cauldron (that's what I do). Sometimes the dye takes so well that you only need it in there for a few minutes and not the 30 minutes, especially to achieve lighter colors. I generally dont use the washing machine method because the water doesn't get hot enough and its hard when dying multiples to make sure the timing is right. Hope this helps in future dye endeavors! 🧡💛🤎

When she said she was keeping that polka dot dress, I literally said, “no, dump it!” out loud just before she said “I know, sorry!” and dang it, if that isn’t just the best parasocial synergy moment I’ve ever been a part of...😂😂

Hey Rachel! Consider donating to local community theatres or even highschool theatres! My mother used to be a costumer and all the clothing items get saved and even borrowed from other theatres! The clothes are treated well and well preserved!

How to keep your whites white - The grandmothers had this substance called Blueing. It's still sold in the on-line world. Basically it's a light dye that will shift the yellow-white to a blue-white. It's a useful thing. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

The yellow color for that last dress was the perfect choice! Also if you do end up donating clothes, please consider replacing the lost buttons and such first, since those in shelters are less likely to be able to do it themselves.

I’m so proud of Rachel for knocking out those little mending tasks that can seem so daunting. Success!

As a person who ended up in a domestic violence shelter with the clothes on my back and nothing else, I cannot stress how much people would appreciate having clothes like these. Huge hugs for showing yet another reason why you’re an awesome individual 💕✨

For the dress at 13:06, that you love the top but hate the bottom: You could turn it into a cute croptop and then harvest the skirt for your fabric stash

Thanks to you and the other sewing youtubers I follow, plus some fabric sales, I think I've finally discovered my aesthetic. "Plaids my mom hates." Thank you!

I find it really helpful to make an “absolutely not” pile, a “let’s ponder our choices” pile, and only leave in the closet the “brings me incalculable seratonin and dopamine” garments. Then once every part of the closet is sorted into one of those categories, I dig into the ponder pile and decide if any of those too should be kept. It’s less pressure than just thinking keep or donate, and I tend to actually donate more that way too.

the relationship you have with your body in this video is really refreshing. How you say "we don't have time for dresses we cannot eat snacks in" is a nice thing to add to my list of mantras as i'm recovering from bulimia at the moment.

Also, you gotta figure "But what if I attend an 18th century vampire ball?" is a very valid and possible question for all of us Halloween kids.

“As I’m getting older I want my skirts to be swishy, my sleeves to be extravagant, and my pockets to be real” -Rachel Maksy (speaking for all of us)

“I thought maybe I could be a little saucy … Nope! Call me plain spaghetti!” A literal LOL for this 🍝

“As I am getting older, I want my skirts to be swishy, my sleeves to be extravagant, and my pockets to be real.” Yes, please.

DYEING TIPS!!! - dip a paper towel into your dye bath to get a ~preview~ of the color - yes, you need to get the garment fully wet before adding it into the dyebath so the dye can disperse evenly! - be sure to either 1) stir and move the garment around frequently or 2) dye in a wide plastic tub or bathtub so the garment isn't all squished up during the process! (this can lead to a tie-dye effect as well) - Regular rit dye will typically not dye polyester thread, elastic, buttons, etc. but Rit Dye More will! <3333 happy dyeing <3333

Just wanted to say that I've been putting off replacing a zipper on one of my favourite skirts because I was overwhelmed by the work involved as a novice seamstress but watching this video encouraged me to do it and I actually managed to repair the skirt! So happy I can wear it again so thanks for the inspiration :)

I love that if something doesn’t fit you don’t blame your body, it is that clothes fault!! THANK YOU, so often I watch these people say “my boobs are too small”, “my stomach is too big” or “I’m too short” you use a far more body positive way of talking about it.