A Closet PURGE *and also some mending*

Heeyo!!! For 60% off with HelloFresh PLUS free shipping, use code RACHELMAKSY60 at bit.ly/3XBGc6Z
Thank you so much HelloFresh for sponsoring this video!
'TIS THAT TIME again where I existentially stare into the abyss that is my wardrobe and ponder to myself: "Why did I buy this?" or "I haven't worn this in 4 years, WHY IS IT HERE?". And so what is the logical thing to do?? PURGE. I haven't done this in the new house yet and boy howdy, I was very overdue. Usually I just end up donating a lot to my local thrift store, handing the bags over like a baby on a doorstep in those old movies, and not worrying about what becomes of it in its later life. BUT NOT THIS TIME. In an effort to be a bit more responsible about where my clothes end up, I'm going to try to find more suitable homes for them, whether that be shelters, museums or people who will be great new adoptive parents.
I also decided I wanted to try to fix and modify some of the items that I was THIS close to getting rid of, since I think that also is a part of being more mindful. YES OKAY long novel aside, I hope you ENJOYYYY.
(I'll let you all know when/if I end up 'selling' these!)
Chapters:
00:00 Part One: The PURGE
04:33 Tops n' Such
09:00 Skirts
10:38 Trousers
11:55 Dresses
16:55 Part Two: Mending & Modifying
24:13 The Results
Patreon: / rachelmaksy
Insta: / rachel.maksy
TikTok: @rachelmaksy

[@EverythingOnIce22]

"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!

[@beeticket]

“No pockets? NO PATIENCE.”

[@katharinedonnelly8343]

I want these on a coffee mug!

[@ShellStein93]

Yes!!

[@Gwenny_Black]

THIS!

[@marissabulso6439]

We need merch.

[@katarinav7897]

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

[@agsuvongiest]

Yes! If I remember correctly Loepsie did this some time ago and it was so much fun

[@mewmew6158]

I would so watch that!

[@carlyo7538]

I agree!

[@Spiceflower1]

Yeeeees!

[@adadadad42]

My friend and I played a game like this over video chat during lockdown ! It was soooooo fun

[@SmurfSuicide]

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! 🧡💛🤎

[@astillnessyoga]

I'll add that the "dye color-fix" does wonders for me! You use it immediately after dying and it's helps the colors stay bright and bold 😊

[@mirjanbouma]

Fyi I've screenshotted your whole comment for future use, thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience ❤

[@vickie_l_b]

Thank you for the tips! I have tried to dye some of my black work trousers after they fade so I can keep wearing them, but have had little luck. Good to know I should just skip the wash machine, use a giant pot, and be patient doing one at a time 😊

[@linzieloo1]

Thanks for sharing this with us don’t know if Rachel read it

[@julialumina1615]

great tips!

[@kallandar13]

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...😂😂

[@ohhhhhhmygodbecky]

And then getting rid of that adorable collar and sleeves ugh... Not that I don't like the result but still caused my physical pain.

[@Honey_and_me]

I would have turned the sleeves into bellsleeves 😅 would feel more free without loosing the collar

[@bronzehughes1812]

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!

[@curiousfirely]

Agreed! I donated fur coats from my Mother and Grandmother to our local threatre. I've spotted at least one in a production so far!

[@annbrookens945]

Excellent idea!

[@colleenfenwickdutcher]

Yes!! Great idea! My niece is very involved in our local theater and I've been told they take some clothing donations that could potentially be used in some plays! Rachel probably has some clothes that would fit the vibe of some plays!

[@BrielleleFay]

Yes!! I was going to comment this :) I used to work in theatre and remember so enjoying donations like that. Especially for highschool and college productions. 🎭

[@thefrenchmode]

As a theatre costumer, I second that wholeheartedly !

[@Moonguided]

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.

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

I am an Eurovision nerd and honestly, I feel seen too. What to wear at a Lord of the Lost gig? 18th Century Vampire vibe. Blood and Glitter...

[@itwasagoodideaatthetime7980]

Everyday is Halloween is you have the proper mindset. 🦇🎃🦇

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

I belong to a Costumers Guild and they have done at least 2 Bal de Vampires that I know of.

[@carolann811]

And for some of us, just in our everyday life -- or afterlife. Or undead unlife? You know what I mean.

[@janiebrossmann1178]

I thought the same thing 😂🖤🎃

[@E_FoxSnowspirit]

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

[@meaj4556]

Same! There are too many garments in my wardrobe that just need a dozen stitches! She is an inspiration!

[@doodlerbee9015]

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.

[@stevezytveld6585]

_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

[@sarenahuisman3446]

yes I was going to comment this! hopefully She'll see it for future reference

[@Ktspitfire007]

Yes!! Bluing is still available and I use it

[@SkySpiral8]

I Wanna know why Steve accidentally joined this convo

[@ourladyofperpetualskepticism]

Blueing is a life saver for refreshing whites!

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@SkySpiral8 Because we're two gen X-er's sharing the same computer. Accidently using the same YT account...

[@Angel_HippieCityHealing]

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 💕✨

[@druidriley3163]

Some of Rachel's clothing looks too dressy. Seems to me that women in shelters would need more utilitarian, easy wear clothing for everyday or job hunting wear instead of dressy clothing that might need dry cleaning or hand washing. But you can tell us?

[@micaelaferreira8337]

Good job assuming so many wrong things about women in shelters. And why should they only wear utilitarian things? Can’t they wear just something pretty if they wish?

[@druidriley3163]

@@micaelaferreira8337 Sure, but I think women in shelters, often with children, have more things concerning them than looking pretty. My aunt had 3 young children to care for and bruises to worry about.

[@DannyDevitoOffical-TrustMeBro]

@@druidriley3163 yea that’s fair, but any clothing is valuable. I’m sure women in that situation (like the one above) would love to be given quality clothing to wear during such turbulent, emotional times in their lives. The things Rachel has are far more utilitarian than the vast amounts of fast fashion synthetic fabrics that are donated to such places, anyhow.

[@Angel_HippieCityHealing]

@@druidriley3163 My experience only, but one thing the shelter I was in did was give the women some money and send us to a consignment store to shop. It was really uplifting to be able to purchase something pretty. Just for me. I had spent years, focused on just my kids and keeping their spirits up while being put down for how I looked. It was empowering to feel a bit like my old self in new clothes that I chose. Part of the healing process is feeling good in your body again and finding clothing that you feel good in is part of that. Hugs 💕✨

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

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!

[@OrthodoxMidwife]

AHHHH I love it 😂😂

[@maudline]

😂😂😂

[@mirjanbouma]

Legendary!

[@marthiannehassell6744]

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

[@MLiesel]

“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.

[@eileennovak1656]

AMEN 💯 🎯

[@estherhinds6314]

I'm only 19 but I have reached the same conclusion. Ain't got no time for any foolishness here

[@Floras_Fiber_Farrago]

Same! I heard that and was like, please I need this on some merch!

[@returnoftheromans6726]

Amen!!!

[@MapleMooseMuffin]

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

[@eb1467be]

Yes! I was looking to see if someone had already suggested this. Like, this goes for a lot of things for me, half my purged stuff end up half salvaged, half in my stash. Things that are too nice to dissect I drop off at a consignment shop where you get store credit when they sell your stuff. They might sell four of my items and I pick up one item with my proceeds, win-win-win I'd say 🙂

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@budd20e]

I was also thinking this. And if you didn't want it to be cropped length you could even continue the shirring down a bit farther so it was easier to tuck into pants and skirts.

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

I love all the great minds in this community. ❤️

[@OhAlice1951]

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.

[@soimsha.]

Yess I’ve always done a yes no and maybe pile. And try them all on just to be sure I actually want to keep it/get rid of it

[@E_FoxSnowspirit]

“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)

[@avgeek3811]

Closet purges seem to have become a sort of a tradition for this channel and it never gets old. Hope your wrist gets better soon!

[@elyssart]

Yep, I love the recurring 'segments' haha.

[@kuhttifrutti2826]

Also "This is not the video I had planned for today" 🤭

[@ars10001]

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.

[@angb6616]

💝✨good wishes on your journey.

[@CaraTheStrange]

I hope your recovery goes well!

[@KZesty]

Well wishes to you! 💕

[@maddyf.6296]

Wishing you a healthy recovery ❤️

[@father_mae_i]

I hope your recovery continues to go well! 💕

[@Urmom-kd1ci]

I love the little “hup” Rachel makes when she throws her clothes out.

[@ColorwaveCraftsCo]

Lol so relatable

[@azrani2023]

me too !!!!! 😆

[@Mezza]

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.

[@azrani2023]

I could not agree more. Rachel's been such a huge inspiration regarding this in so many ways

[@levim6693]

The wrist brace REALLY made the bowling shirt a complete look. A definite keep. 😂

[@hescutethough2419]

"we dont have time for dresses we cant eat snacks in!!" truer words have never been spoken ♥

[@curiousfirely]

So true! I got lucky this summer with a weirdly fitting bridesmaid's dress, that looked fine but allowed me to hide a whole beverage inside the boned bodice ;) Very handy!

[@stacylynn1152]

I always love your closet purges, but the addition of the mending was *chef’s kiss.* I would love seeing more of you altering/mending items. Especially items you’ve made that you talk about the changes you would do to them.

[@annafantasia]

Yes!! I would love to see improvements to previous projects.

[@azrani2023]

Me too, I absolutely LOVED the mending part, it's educative, fun and inspiring. I think the things came out awesome.

[@amycia9016]

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 :)

[@azrani2023]

that's awesome, now you inspire me!

[@BlinkPopShift]

Rachel: No projects! Hand Resting Also Rachel: Mend 1 million things!

[@gersandelf]

Came here to leave this exact comment haha

[@AleriaCarventus]

Rachel: I want to look hawt! Also Rachel: literally codified “whisky grandpa” style

[@forestenrory]

they're not mutually exclusive... HOT WHISKY GRANDPA INCOMING HEHEE

[@maxmagically8073]

it can be two things ; v ;

[@amandabehnke5825]

The truth of that statement will live in infamy 😂

[@oliviatheshark3704]

Ive never heard the feeling of forcing yourself to let go of items from your hoard vocalised but i think "THESE!!! ARE THE THINGS!!! I CAN DO!! WITHOUT!!!" sums it up pretty well

[@christineh8511]

My brain tingled with serotonin when Rachel opened her dress closet, and it was a portal to Autum. The clothing refreshes are delicious Hobbity fall goodness and look amazing!!

[@courtdavila]

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!

[@storythreads]

Natural dye artist here, came to say all these same things. If the dye you're using will handle the heat (most Rit dyes will), and your fiber won't be damaged, keeping your pot at a simmer does help with moving the fabric around if you don't want to sit like a witch over her cauldron.

[@virginiacreager4331]

I presosked one towel in vinegar water before dying it and the other towel I just wet with water. The vinegar one took the dye much better.

[@bun04y]

And since Rachel's "signature color" seems to be in brown tones, try tea or coffee dying. cheap and easy. You can also get yellows from yellow onion skin, purpley from red onion skins and there are loads of other foods that will stain/dye your clothes...especially Koolaide!

[@ladyariananorth]

I'm lazy, I dye clothes and fabric in my washing machine. It stirs for me.

[@marielehleitner3643]

Some other dye advice... 1. Check the fabric first (there are different formulas for natural fibers vs. synthetic, and blends will be accordingly lighter because of this), 2. Follow the instructions/check out the dye website for a guide to mix the colors and calculate how much dye you need for your project (comforters need more dye than a blouse etc.), 3. For darker colors, you can let it soak longer, especially overnight, for better results, 4. If you are using powder dye, make sure to mix it well when adding it to water so you don't get streaks/spots, 5. It always dries/rinses lighter, 6. Err on the side of being too light rather than too dark, so you can re-dye if you don't get the right color, and 7. Try and dye a bunch of things at once so as to not waste the dye unless you are working on something large.

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

As a buxom woman, finding cute shirts that don't look weird on the boobage area is one of the reasons i was driven to sewing. Curse you H&M sizes.

[@Toasttttttttt]

Do you happen to have any recommendations on how to get started? I've got that issue too, but no idea how I'd go about learning how to sew and what kind of cuts/patterns would be a good start for that kind of body type 😅 I do own a sewing machine, but I'm a complete beginner, so I'd appreciate any advice you may have!

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

@@Toasttttttttt KZbin, books and the vintage designer patreon I am subscribed to (she has a series of videos about fitting) I hope it helps.

[@daleannharsh8295]

@@Toasttttttttt See if your community college or parks & recreation department have a class for beginners for the sewing. If there's a place that specializes in selling and repairing sewing machines where you live they may have classes.

[@elyssart]

@@Toasttttttttt Also taking apart old clothes that you liked the shape of but are ready for the rags pile will allow you to see the geometric patterning used in the construction and you can use it as a study of the shapes needed to create more.

[@rainbowgirl949494]

@@elyssartoh this is actually an amazing idea!!

[@cuzitey9006]

"I thought it was funny" "Nick just did not think it was quite as humorous as I did.. so I bought it". My husband and I have the same relationship, THANK YOU Rachel 😂

[@tessiagriffith9555]

A few weeks later and I have repeatedly returned to “we don’t have time for (clothes) we can’t eat snacks in” for legitimate mental health help. Genuinely thank you for this phase, the aggressive tone I can listen to it in my head, and the positive mental image to go with it!

[@azrani2023]

absolutely true ❤ you don't need that either 🙌

[@sianthesheep]

I'd wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night thinking "Yes, but what if I AM invited to a 18th Vampiric Ball" and quietly creep downstairs to take the dress out of the give away pile. I am composed of 100% indecisiveness and 0% resolve.

[@returnoftheromans6726]

That would be something I would totally do. But I usually do this with books. It's a miracle if I ever donate books. Once in a blue moon!

[@roxy5759]

I am so glad you kept that "Edwardian/70's" blouse for the "what if I attend a vampire ball" because it's honestly my favorite blouse you own 😂

[@teabeetalkspod]

"No pockets, no patience" is my new motto and as always you make my fridays (yes I know its monday lol) thanks for the words of wisdom and hope your plaster wrist heal

[@Mara-ig3st]

A trick I use when I'm not sure if something is wool (specifically wool- doesn't really work for cashmere, etc.) is to just get part of it wet and smell it. Wool has that distinct lanolin/sheep smell when wet even if it's clean. If it has no smell and the surface fibers look sort of... sparkly... when wet, it's probably acrylic or similar.

[@AlexaFaie]

I just touch it. If I get a sore red hand then its got wool in it. Nasty horrid scratchy texture. I am fine with lanolin, but the wool texture itself - the tiny barbs - cuts my skin to shreds as I have very fragile skin due to EDS. I love the concept of wool I just wish it didn’t cut me up!

[@lisastromsholm5171]

​@@AlexaFaieAcrylic might be even worse, it has sharper fibers than wool and I can' t wear it. But I can wear fine wool.

[@gwendolynglover9277]

My husband brought me tea so I could stay cozy in bed and watch the new Rachel Maksy video with my cat and DAMN I feel like I've leveled up 😂

[@skyekh.9836]

That’s exactly the kind of life I aspire to... Congratulations 😂💖💖💖

[@annam.1395]

I love seeing the purge and mending together!! I think that makes it more sustainable that you don’t have to get rid of everything, you can just alter it. Also, the mending portion holds you accountable to actually make the changes necessary for you to wear something more, thus making it worth the space

[@camouflagejumpsuit]

​@REACHMEONRachelMaksyis that reap or a fishy phisher? Any who I was going to make a tease about a woman who sorts her clothes into 3 closets by body part covered... 😏

[@hellskitten1832]

​@@camouflagejumpsuit Absolutely no doubt phishing. There's quite a few comments from that account, so many winners would be unrealistic. Also, Rachel would never. Can you imagine? 😅 She would at least mention it in the video & description box. Alsoooo, the name is very fishy. It's clearly not from Rachel's actual account..... Soo she would make a different account to announce winners? Highly unlikely. I certainly hope no one falls for it.... That said, any comment like this that has you questioning if it's real most likely isn't real. The fact that you're even questioning the legitimacy at all should be a warning sign. Hopefully that helps! Hehe. You didn't act on it did you?

[@hellskitten1832]

@Anna M. To reply to the actual comment as well.... Yeess hehe. You're right. The mending part certainly adds value to the overall video as well as the items!

[@zvezdoblyat]

@@hellskitten1832 you guys don't see these on KZbin often? That account is a bot

[@zvezdoblyat]

@@camouflagejumpsuit its a bot

[@RoseHayan]

We don’t have time for dresses we can’t enjoy snacks in is a WHOLE MOOD

[@alyssataylor2338]

I know you don’t often wear it, but every time you try on something blue I think it looks absolutely phenomenal. Obviously, wear whatever makes you happy, but also know that the color blue loves you.

[@laurie4275]

She looks great in all jewel tones. Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Amethyst. It's a shame she doesn't like color, because she looks fabulous in color.

[@nadiameyer499]

I so relate to the energy- “i’m not supposed to do anything with my sore wrist”, proceeds to do all the things

[@hollisterdoty-griner1683]

Dyeing Tips! You need enough water that the item moves freely and you need to stir the pot pretty consistently because the fabric near the bottom will get warmer and take more dye so to keep everything even you need to stir Hope this helps!

[@E_FoxSnowspirit]

So glad she made a historical pile… it’s good to see people care for historical clothing they run by in the real world instead of exposing it to damage

[@spring_chicken]

I love the twist you put on your typical Closet Purge video! It's so nice to see how thrifting is a good start when thinking of personal impact, but also putting time and effort into fixing and mending what you already own gives it more life. It's such a good message to put out into the world, so thank you!

[@boredpanda7]

Dare I say, this feels like your most successful purge to date

[@MissDraiha]

It definitely was, she's terrible at purges 😄

[@maiahN]

I was applauding her as she went along! 👏😅💕

[@laurabowles]

Hey Rachel! For any clothes you have that are not in wearable condition (i.e. stained/ripped) and that you can't use for other projects, you can send them to the clothing brand For Days and they will recycle them for you! Same goes for bags, blankets, and all kinds of other textiles! You pay them $20 and they send you a big bag with a prepaid mailing label. After they get your stuff, you get a $20 credit to the site that you can use to buy new things :)

[@misshauntcouture]

For days is great.

[@LittleMissJesse]

I love these kinds of videos. There's a girl on tiktok who has been doing a "going through my closet until I love everything" series and seeing how she's grown over the series is so satisfying and heartwarming 💛

[@alliraw]

Loved this! I’m a big believer in mending or altering clothes so they don’t live in the closet all of their days! I’ve dyed a fair amount in my time and I’d say my big tip to get an even dye job is to make sure there is enough water to have the garment freely move in the pot and to stir it frequently if not the entire 30 minutes it in there! It’ll make it consistent I promise! And try the synthetic dye for the yarn vest- it should work if the regular one didn’t take!! Happy mending!!!

[@tfkns_14]

This is the funnest closet purge you've ever done and I love it! On the dyeing I will say, you're supposed to stir them for the 30 minutes in order to avoid that tie dye look. I've learned this the hard way

[@marijeb278]

True! And the starting with wet clothes also really helps

[@ourladyofperpetualskepticism]

Def start with wet clothes because something science about fibers absorbing different amount of water based on wear and other things means that if the dye water goes on dry fabric then some fibers can take in more dye then others, but if the fibers are already wet the amount of dye water they absorb is more consistent and makes the pigments take more evenly and also pre saturated fabric doesn’t tend to float so much.

[@sarahlashbrook6991]

That’s what I was going to say, too - definitely stir them while they’re in the dye bath.

[@sparrowsayshi]

Stir the whole time or every few minutes?

[@ourladyofperpetualskepticism]

@@sparrowsayshi As long as the garment is fully submerged and isn’t crowded in whatever you are dyeing it in, you can probably get away with every few minutes. But dyeing clothes is a bit like making a good risotto-gotta babysit it or it might not turn out the best.

[@everausten]

This was so therapeutic for someone with a million loose ends and unfinished mess. That could be an episode, dress ups for all the non-events you're saving for vampire ball, pirate high tea, adventurer-of-the-year ceremony etcetera✨🌙✨

[@AlexaFaie]

Yeah she could do the video wearing the idea, and then having done so could let it go (if she wanted to). That way she'd at least have the footage to reminisce with.

[@KristenK78]

Having followed you for several years, I’m going to say I am REALLY PROUD OF YOU! You’ve struggled with previous purges, and this time, you were pretty ruthless. Good job!

[@bambilover26]

Thank you for showing how agonizing it can be to get rid of things you think you might need someday! I struggle with that a lot, and it's nice to know I'm not alone 😊 also it was so fun to see you adapt some of the pieces!!

[@tyleranderson4852]

Hey there Rachel!! Im not sure how many local / college theater programs there are local to you , but that’s usually a great place to donate clothes to! Especially in the styles you have!! It’s usually very hard to find many of the things you have , and it can be difficult for theatrical productions to try to make them as well . Long time follower of your chan!! ❤❤

[@sarahbeth124]

This! I once found a pair of my own sneakers in my high school costume closet (I wrote on the soles of them) Clearly the drama teacher was perusing garage sales 😂

[@josiemae-ross3268]

The daisy dress from 13:00 could easily be turned into a top AND you can save the skirt fabric for future sewing projects! You seemed to enjoy the sleeves so much it would be a shame to deny yourself the poofiness! Also dyeing tip: You gotta agitate! Stir the dye bath regularly so the colour spreads more evenly. It might be that a pocket of neat colour got trapped in a section of the dress the first time you dyed it. (But maybe you were stirring it and we just didn't see which is totally cool.) I'd suggest setting a timer for every 10 mins or so if you're multitasking to just prompt going back and giving the fabric a stir. Great job all round for a first timer though!

[@ellelee6912]

Yep that's what I was thinking too! You could even further the elastic ruching stuff further to the waist which would probably be a cool thing to learn since lots of your fav dresses have that.

[@morganfiona8378]

In my experience getting the color stay fixative for dying really helps the color stick! Also if you're dying the fabric of something you're making, dye it before stitching, the threads will not dye the same color as the fabric usually:)

[@CassianGray]

This video is such a fun change of pace! While it certainly is fun to watch you and other fashion-Tubers make new clothing, it's also really good to have a reminder to tend the weeds in our existing wardrobes, and to give some items a new chance at life. It feels good to take a step back from the fast fashion hamster-wheel.

[@azrani2023]

i could not agree more. ♥

[@joanderson6880]

Watching this while going through a phase of hating/not fitting into literally every single item in my wardrobe is surprisingly therapeutic

[@1Pineapple]

Same!!!

[@MissiveCauseIMissYou]

Same, it's nice to know it's not just me

[@joanderson6880]

@@MissiveCauseIMissYou Oh yeah, it's definitely not just you. I literally went through my entire wardrobe right after watching this video, I've got, like, three whole giant paper bags of unwanted clothing just sitting on the landing right now.

[@llamasugar5478]

“I just kind of wung it . . .” Words to live by. Stove-top dyeing works best if you 1) wet the fabric first, 2) agitate the fabric so that the color gets spread around, and 3) have enough water to cover the fabric with an inch to spare. Absolutely _love_ the new colors!

[@krystelanderson5443]

I recommend even a little bit more water than that. But yes to all this!

[@SinaJulia]

Weighing the fabric down by putting something heavy on a wire rack on top of the item, so no part is outside of the dye water when you’re not actively agitating it has always helped me too, but simply keeping on agitating it is obviously better 🙈

[@TheShhSecret]

"we don't have time for dresses that we can't eat snacks in" It's giving Bee and Puppycat 😂💕

[@ericakelly5064]

as someone who gets stressed having 1-2 extraneous pairs of pants this video has helped me gain perspective on what having a lot of clothes truly means

[@mamazeta906]

Love the inclusion of the mending segment!! So often we get rid of clothing that just needs a little fix, like a button replaced or even a small tear stitched. Mending/repurposing is so much better than adding to landfills. Also, the pinafore turned out so cute!!

[@boredpanda7]

Also- I'd love how to fix fabric loop buttons (without holes) because I have so many vintage dresses hanging out that are perfectly fine that just need those fixed

[@staceyrice9536]

This video has for sure inspired me to mend/dye/repurpose clothing

[@dannilo-ro5791]

Ok but this helped me so much. I’m turning 30 this year and experiencing the… “huh. My body shape is changing and I don’t like the way these fit anymore” feeling. Seeing you go through a similar process with some of the pieces felt validating. ❤

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

This 40 year old body is experiencing the same and I really want to be here for it, but it's hard in this world. Rachel's out here reminding us all that our clothes should fit our bodies, not the other way around. ❤️

[@dannilo-ro5791]

@@AllTheHappySquirrels yesss. A hard lesson to learn. But I keep reminding myself I wasn’t put on this earth to spend all my energy worried about what I look like. I got stuff to do.

[@lindaatkinsthibodeaux7650]

That's not real it's a scam prize...... Plz don't click

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

@@lindaatkinsthibodeaux7650 I just report them, in the hopes that the KZbin AI will remove it. 🤷

[@Saraphina_Marie]

I'm a quasi-professional dyer. You want more water! If you need to cold-water dye, BOIL the concentrated dye and then add it to the bath. you need like 1-2 cups of salt for plain ol Rit and clear liquid dish detergent like Dawn Free or Ivory Clear, that's what we used at Disney. It's the surfactants you need to help the dye particles penetrate your fiber. Rit's synthetic dye is AWESOME. I was hella skeptical but we tried it at Nashville Ballet and it was LEGIT. If your knit vest didn't shrink and barely tinted, but still feels very wool-like, it is likely acrylic and you can try another round with Rit Synthetic or an overnight soak with regular Rit. It is a "union dye" which means it will at least tint all fabrics (hence the name, versus a fiber-specific dye). Also ALWAYS wet your fabric first, as the dye soaks in, it will deposit where it soaks and you will deplete the dye in the bath unevenly. Make sure garments have been washed, no fabric softener, and plunk them in ALL AT ONCE. Even 5-10 seconds can change how much dye is absorbed and just you a mottled/tie-dye effect. Also make sure you wash your stuff separately the first couple of times, Rit is notorious for running. And you might need touch-ups because Rit also fades.

[@Whitney_Sews]

The dress turned pinafore turned out so adorable! I hope you saved the collar for a future project.

[@t.j.stabler9253]

Yelling Tears For Fears lyrics at your wardrobe might just be your best moment ever. It's definitely near the top of the list.

[@victoriaindesign]

I’m so glad you turned the green dress from Sondeflor into a pinafore. It is gorgeous!

[@Roserae16]

I love that Rachael took us to 3 separate filming locations of where she keeps her clothes, which makes me think she might spend a lot of time flitting about the house in a robe or towel when she gets dressed and I find that incredibly cute and funny 😅 note: I am not judging, live your best hectic life Rachael ❤

[@oliveheadwhoa]

Wearing red lipstick was a bold choice for a closet purge 🤣 Great video, as always!

[@isla2593]

That pinafore is adorable! It's also so nice to see people with influence being so responsible and thoughtful about what they do with the clothes they purge. Thank you :)

[@the_Pons]

Technically not a pinafore though since it has a back. It's a sleeveless dress 😁

[@isla2593]

@@the_Pons Oxford dictionary definition of a pinafore - "a collarless sleeveless dress worn over a blouse"

[@theinkyspoon]

Rachel: "finding a bra to wear with this is not easy" My husband in the background (hes 56 btw): "yeah as far as I remember they didnt wear them much back then"

[@annalinneajohansson]

😆

[@emdeka]

Exactly what I thought too "Because you wear it without a bra" xD

[@manicmuffin]

​@@emdeka that only works for the blessed small and/or perky ladies, some of us wear bras simply of of necessity, lmao. I would personally wear it a fancy bra/lette type deal and let it show.

[@jodivandyk3649]

Back when I had a top like that, I wore a bra that narrowed in sharply in the middle and then tied the knot around it which both hid it and kept it in place. It worked for me.

[@emdeka]

@@manicmuffin yeah sure, but considering the time it was popular, ultra thin was the norm xD Just remarking on when it would've been worn, not what people should do now!

[@pinkflower2601]

I love the addition of mending to closet purges! I just did a bunch of mending for my own clothes today too 😊

[@jeannedeperthuis8690]

"We don't have time for dresses we can't eat snacks in" is my new life motto, thanks

[@rachaeldiviney712]

If you want to keep the shirts white I highly recommend Vanish Oxi Action. It's this cleaning powder that comes in a pink tub and it's amazing. Leave them soaking for a few hours and they will be like new and super bright again. You can also use it for stain removal

[@mackenziekayy]

bless u for this lol

[@the_Pons]

It has to be 100% white though, nothing with any type of print or colour.

[@sewmad1400]

I don’t know where you are geographically but here in Australia we can also buy Vanish/Napisan for colours and it works brilliantly!

[@the_Pons]

@@sewmad1400 Good for you. I had a white t-shirt with a gold print that I washed (mind you, washed regularly, not soaked for hours as mentioned above) and that gold came right of ☹️

[@missmeakat]

Wetting the fabric before dyeing definitely makes the colour more even, I think it absorbs at the same rate or something

[@jenniferlynn3537]

Yeah, when I saw that crumpled dry dress heading for the pot, I was like, “NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo...”😱 But then I was like, “Wait - does Rachel know somethin I don’t know?” 🤔 Now I wonder whether dipping the dry dress, hem first, would’ve resulted in an attractive gradient....😋

[@jodivandyk3649]

Also, stirring the pot frequently helps to keep the dye from concentrating in some areas and not others. Love the pinafore!

[@fireflower12]

i love casual videos like this! just watching you hang out and do stuff. like honestly you could film yourself running errands and id still watch it

[@its_just_seb]

5:44 this really resonates with me because i've been doing the same with books. i used to just give them to thrift stores, which A) are really picky about what they accept, and B) might not actually end up selling the books at all. So instead i've been researching little free libraries (usually repurposed telephone cabins and such, with shelves put in where you can bring books and take books home in exchange) in my area and donating to those instead. they've been really on the rise here and it makes me so happy that there's this little thing that we can use for free when everything around us tries to squeeze profit out of every nook and cranny.

[@alian8607]

“I want my skirts to be swooshy, my sleeve to be extravagant, and my pockets to be real.” ❤

[@neonblkhole]

One sweaty person to another, I've always appreciated your transparency 😔✊

[@allymagrath]

Saaaame. I too, am a sweaty betty.

[@annareverie13]

I love your closet purge videos! I have a lot of guilt about getting rid of stuff, especially if something was a gift, if I bought it very recently, or if I bought it because someone else encouraged me to (why I don’t go shopping with my Ma anymore 🙃) I’m also guilty of keeping things for ‘in case I drop 3 dress sizes’ ‘in case I get taller somehow’ ‘in case I get a job on a farm in the 1890s’… you’ve inspired me to do a proper closet purge of my own without guilt! One thing I have found helpful is 1. Thinking of someone’s joy when they come across a dress that didn’t suit me but is perfect for them in a charity shop, and 2. Finding meaningful places to donate to. As well as women’s shelters, there are organisations supporting refugees (fyi they are often desperate for mens clothing in particular!) homeless folk (they especially want warm coats), and local to me there’s one that helps women get into work with training etc, and they take smart clothing for women who might not have anything suitable for interviews/starting a new job (Smartworks, if anyone in Northeast England wants to check them out 😊)

[@Tori-mi3jb]

The son de flor dress turned into a pinafore is the cutest thing EVER. 🤩

[@bookdragon7546]

That 60s blue and white striped dress is so cute! I get it though, it's so important to be happy with your whole closet.

[@telliusbian]

The yellow dress is to die for, love seeing attire being "saved"

[@michaeladawnofficial]

So many quotable moments! Love the focus on mending and trying to be more sustainable. Can't wait to see what you do with the collar!

[@Rikyjanne]

Friends often tell me I remind them of you, and this may sound like a backwards compliment, but honestly I'm always so flattered when they tell me that because you're kind of my online icon! Lovely things you made, and lovely to see you so happy :) Good luck with the wrist

[@oliviamoers6606]

I honestly adore this style of content. And the fixing and mending of things is so therapeutic. Also, we get a fun video and Rachel gets items fixed. LOVE THAT! Two birds one stone! But for the love of god, rest your hand!

[@MargaretMAnderson]

Agree! (Also upcycle to "feed two birds with one scone", it's fun!)

[@Valeriesanalyses]

Two things for the yellowing: Aluminum deodorant is actually the culprit for yellow sweat stains. I switched to lavilin, a cream deodorant without aluminum and I never get them anymore. If the entire garment is yellowed, you can use indigo powder or special blue soaps to tone it back. I haven't tried this myself but I saw people doing it when I visited egypt.

[@the_Pons]

Unlikely, since Rachel often used Native. And I don't use deodorant at all and still get such stains

[@MerryMoss]

Honestly, the Hobbit blazer and the colourful skirt at 10:12 broke my heart a little 😢 I've seen them so many times and/or have a strong association with them and I'm sad to see them go 11:21 is exactly me when I discover THE AUDACITY of fake and/or entirely lacking pocketses 😂 And I literally gasped when you showed the yellow dyed dress, it came out really well (for as far as I can see) and I adore the colour 😍

[@krystalandersen9259]

12:33 dress I'm like "I know a good place to donate, to ME! I love it so much!" Wonderful, funny, video as always! Thanks Rachel!♥

[@BoneForest]

What I did to my blazers this year was remove the sleeves and convert it to a vest/waistcoat. I use vests WAY more than I do blazers.

[@angb6616]

I was thinking the same thing. 🤔

[@raven5279]

I think I just ascended, when I started judging competitions I got about ten thousand blazers from family members and I only wear two of them because I have shoulders and muscles and the sleeves of things that fit my body often do not fit my arms. Thank you for enlightening me to the possibility of vests lmao

[@Peuratar]

I am so happy if you donate that shirt to a museum!!! As a curator for collections i am soo excited for some historical textiles ❤️❤️❤️

[@rankushrenada]

16:14 that dress comes up every closet purge and it always makes me smile when it stays. So glad your dye-ing worked, I ruined my favorite skirt doing the same thing and now I still keep it hoping I can dye it black ; v ; ~

[@Beaverthing]

I love the focus on mending, changing and dyeing to fall back in love with clothing that you already own!

[@TFeary]

Ok, as a fellow sweaty-Betty....I had no clue arm pit pads existed!! I'm very excited and pleased by this. Thank you for spreading sweaty people problems and tips on how you deal with it!

[@keepscats7936]

They're called "dress shields." I'm older than dirt and they've been around longer than I have. Also, clear "household" ammonia will remove perspiration stains. It's nasty stuff and must never be used with anything that contains bleach. I wouldn't mix it with vinegar either. It's not suitable for silk or wool, but great on cotton or linen. Can be used on colors, too.

[@misshauntcouture]

You can get them from Kleinart's. They are called dress shields, but in theatre, we do call them pit pads. We use snaps to sew them in. (Size #3 is the snap preference)

[@velmi_malenkaja_zabka]

"We don't have time for dresses we can't eat snacks in!" these are words of wisdom

[@winterfire1376]

The shirts that tie in the middle! tie them around the middle of the bra and it both hides it and doesn’t come undone!! this literally saved my favourite tops

[@harfir7169]

Video idea: adding real pockets to fake pockets. Turning bad dresses into good shirts. Widening waists using fabric from a cropped hemline, or making the widening decorative with another fabric, ribbon detail etc.

[@MOLLYLUNCHCO]

Looooove seeing what other people have in their closets/closet purges. Also love that vicarious feeling of watching people complete long procrastinated chores. Great job everyone, we got so much done today 🤠

[@thespookycore4344]

"THESE ARE THE THINGS I CAN DO WITHOUT" is a good response to most of my daily life

[@iriis947]

Thank you for your videos. Life can really seem like it just wants you to fail and be miserable, but as I work through it, your channel is always a safe place to put a smile on my face.

[@azrani2023]

right?? seriously, I can't wrap my head around the fact that Rachel ALWAYS manages to make my day better, every single damn time. it is such a nice thing to look forward to: "I'm gonna spend some time with Rachel tonight" hahah. weird.

[@heathersealey592]

I love every single change! Your mending and fixing are amazing!