Recreating a Dress I Can't Afford 😬 

"Slight plagerism" My aunt was a professional tailor, when my cousin was gettimg married, they went dress shopping, found a 5000$ dress, my aunt took pictures and sewed it.... from scratch We call it the illegally downloaded dress

In my book: - Copying an exact design to make multiple copies and sell: morally questionable, but that's the way the retail industry works. - Copying a design you love for yourself when there is 0 chance you can afford the original: Good. It's been done forever by home seamstresses. Never feel bad about that.

I watched this video with my 99 year old great grandmother and she said “did she make that dress? Well how bout that she did a good job didn’t she!” She also loves Frodo. Thank you for your wholesome content 💕 Perhaps she is your oldest fan 👵🏻

Personally this doesn't even feel like a grey area. You're not claiming to have come up with the design, you're not doing it to sell it at a lower price point or as if it were their product and you didn't even try to make it exactly the same. You just took inspiration from it and gave proper credit to the source. And all of this is before even going into the ridiculous price point and the fact that you'd probably be able to find very similar dresses on etsy and pinterest.

"I looked it up briefly so Im an expert" Literally me as a theater costume designer 😂

"the sky was crying and so was i" such a raw line for a sewing video

One of my favorite things about Rachel is that she can, in one video, embody hunched floor troll, grumpy button gramma, and graceful forest fantasy effortlessly.

re: "light plagiarism" In knitting & crochet, it's called reverse engineering and it's a highly prized skill.

TIP! I work in a bridal shop and alterations department and there is a ribbon that comes with the loops already that you can get at joans that's will make you doing this next time so much more enjoyable and no needle braking!

as someone who’s been to fashion school, everyone copies everyone, so unless you make something and say is your complete total original idea when it’s not, you’re good

this is incredible! I feel like recreating a sustainable dress you can't afford is a million times better than trying to find a cheap mass-produced dupe. especially by not trying to make a profit off of this dress and simply making it for yourself using thrifted fabrics, it's genuinely just a great way to get the clothing you want without hurting your wallet or the environment

You did a fantastic job on the dress. At $6 and super comfy, you will likely wear it more than you would a $770 dollar dress that you may be concerned with staining or otherwise ruining. Also, reusing an old, thrifted bedsheet strikes me as being much more sustainable than buying something new. You are inspiring as always!

I feel like there's a moral grey area between plagiarising someone's design and like, having eyes. You're not breaking into a secret vault and stealing the blueprint to the pattern and the contact to the fabric manufacturer, you're looking at someone wearing it and trying to recreate it. Which is how it's always worked, isn't it? Not only are fast fashion stores copying designer looks straight off of runways, but previously people used to have fashion plates and magazines, and even before that, they literally went and looked at what the rich folks were wearing so they could copy the styles. I think it's a problem if you're stepping into the zone of the original maker; making one dress for yourself is not the same as what Wish is doing to indie creators. Not to mention the educational benefits of trying to retrace the steps of achieving a certain effect. The only grey area might potentially be in making money off of a RU-vid video about it, since you are in a way making a profit with someone else's design, but, again, I think it's fair use - because of the education and entertainment factor, but also because you're basically using the promotional pictures that are put on the web specifically in order for people to see them, look at them, share them; you're giving credit and you're popularising the product. In the end it's far more likely for a viewer of yours to buy this dress than it is for them to make it, let's not kid ourselves 🤭😆

speaking as a fashion major who spent four weeks on this exact subject (seamstress/designers/brands “replicating” other designs) you are definitely not in a grey area!! it’s completely expected and normal in fashion for a silhouette as classic as that dress to be teplicated by multiple brands, multiple times, for many yrs to come.

My IT boyfriend EVERY TIME we watch your videos: WHY DOESN'T SHE JUST BUY AN AC UNIT!? .... He's very passionate about your health

When I saw all those covered buttons and loops, I knew exactly why the dress had that price tag 😂 Seamstress: I am not doing this ever again. *scribbles price tag* There, now I won’t have to.

I love how real Rachel is about the frustrations you encounter in your sewing projects, and that she often looks to thrift/second hand shops first. It reminds me that there are always learning curves (or just days where the machine doesn't want to do your bidding) with every project, and there's nothing wrong with not making everything from absolute scratch. Thank you for being inspiring!

Rachel: forgets she’s a RU-vidr and doesn’t film the days summary Also Rachel: films herself grumpily eating mac and cheese I’m so amused by this

Does Rachel know that when she sews dresses she has the ability to add pockets whenever? It seems like a luxury she hasn't taken advantage of yet lol

One of the things I've learned from you is creation needs whimsy more than it needs "perfection" in order to fulfill the measure of it's creation. ❤

on the topic of “plagiarism”: if you were planning on selling this dress, then there would be an issue. but if its for your personal use (and let’s be honest, with the changes made its more of an original dress) i don’t see a problem

Rachel your dress is gorgeous, really. But the real star here is Frodo’s thigh highs.

6$ for the materials - girl, how many hours of labour are in there? They count too!

I always say that I would be a “weird, eccentric” rich person. I’ll be buying expensive velvet cloaks, queenly dresses, daggers, boots that I put my daggers into. Basically I’ll be living out my fantasy dreams 😅

If the skirt falling flat is an issue you’d like to remedy, one word: *petticoat*

You are not alone in childhood book writing cringe. I was writing a knockoff twilight and I so badly wanted to name the school Rosebay High. So I google it (because of course this will be a published work of genius) and find out there's a highschool in my state called that already. I then write to the principal asking permission to use that name. They write back and say sorry no. And I literally become a desolate writer. Wallowing in the misery of imperfection. Without that name my work was nothing and I theatrically tore it up and binned it 🤣

This is the reason I started sewing, too many pretty dresses I can’t afford to buy

rachel “pits don’t quit” maksy

There are very much two types of JoAnn employees and stores. It's always either they are grumpy and unhelpful or you get the really nice super helpful. Not to mention the nice ones are few and far in between.

Rachel: “I need to work on my posture” *me immediately sits up straight realizing I am also slouching*

Re: the loops - they make that as pre-done strips you can purchase by the yard; it's got a base it's attached to which is much easier to stitch down to your garment. It's usually in with the ribbons and cording at craft stores. You just have to make sure the the loop size and spacing is compatible with your garment and button sizing.

I'm re-watching a whole bunch of Rachel's recent videos in a neverending quest for serotonin and I suddenly realized the number of times she compares her outfit to Milo Thatch and then immediately says "or a camp counselor" is... interesting

26 years ago, a generous and talented friend designed and made my wedding dress with a long row of tiny covered buttons going down the back. Belatedly, I now understand the hell she went through. Thank you, Freddie, wherever you are!

Yes, please make this a series. I love how the dress turned out! There's nothing wrong with making a dress that someone else designed as long as you're not selling it. It a representation of how you see it, it not their exact pattern. Nothing immoral there at all; you're not causing them to lose money because you never intended on buying it in the first place.

I would love to see a video or videos on how you "fixed" the clothes you made. I think what you do already is amazing, of course. It would be interesting to hear how you made the pattern fit better for you. The improvisational part of all your videos is inspiring. I just made a bunch of curtains and learned a ton in the process. Thanks for your humor and ability to jump right in and sew!!!

"Copying" garments is like making music. We only have so many ways to put things together. Your dress will be not only fit to you, you will alter it to suit you. And really, how ethical is stuff made in Cambodia in general? Are these workers being paid even $5hr? How many chemicals go on that field? Using a recycled linen or heavy cotton bedsheet is better. And you aren't cheap, you're frugal. This dress is a loos shift with buttons, circa 1750. You're fine.

I'm a boy, never wore a dress in my whole life, I completely suck at sewing but still your video are so fun entertaining and inspiring Thank youuuuu

Congratulations on completing the dress -- It looks charming on you! A laundering tip from experience: if you put the dress through a washer and dryer, there's a good chance that one or more of the covered buttons will come apart, so it's probably better to hand wash your creation and hang it to dry. (when it's not humid) P.S. Your doggie has a grrrrrr-8 personality!

You can't copyright fashion designs because clothing is considered to be of functional use. You are not doing anything wrong. This is why six companies can put out the same style of a thing and knock off brands happen. You can copyright prints on fabrics and such, but the basic shapes and combinations of patterned garment pieces are up for fair use.

Rachel: are you wearing the... Frodo: the Chanel boots? Yeah, I am.

I would say “WHERE IS THE HARRY POTTER NOVEL READING VIDEO” but that sounds harsh so instead; Wow, that Harry Potter novel you wrote at age 11 sure looks neat! How about a video dedicated to it? Gee, thanks!

Heck yeah, budgeting! Sweatshop labour is okay if you're the only one sweating from the labour 😂

I absolutely love that you use thrifted and recycled materials when you can. We love an eco-conscious queen!!

Your dress turned out beautiful! Your sewing skills are getting better and better!

I love younger Rachel! We would have 100% been buddies. I found a rap I wrote about Snow White when I was 8 that turned into a traumatic retelling of my parents divorce…

my favorite parts of your videos are hands down when your pup justautomatically lays down on every single piece of fabric.

Yes! We would love to watch a series of " Dresses I Can't Afford, So I Make Them". But of course, you could make pot holders and we would watch it! :D Love the dress- great buttons!

Did you know that dogs and cats walk like that when you put socks on them because they rely on the sensation of touch to know if their feet have sufficiently left the ground? So since the socks make them feel like they're always touching the ground, they overcompensate.

We adore following your sewing journey Rachel, I can not tell you how many brilliant and talented famous designers have plagiarised our sewing patterns, the detail and styles are perfect to execute creative licence on.

While filming yourself sewing may not seem like exciting content, it actually motivates me to dig out my sewing patterns and do something with them. Thank you. Also, I don't know if this is encouraging or disappointing, but after 30+ years of sewing there are still little things I'm not 100% happy about the garments I make. However this doesn't stop me from sewing and wearing them.

i've only been around for a week or two now on this channel and i can say with confidence that it's not a rachel maksy sewing video until frodo lays on top of whatever fabric rachel has!

I’m new to sewing, my goal is to see my daughter’s prom dress in three years. Thanks for your zesty personality and honesty with your sewing journey ❤️

A whole mood As for the moral gray area regarding "light plagiarism" it's a sense of, if you have the ability to do something yourself as opposed to buying it from someone else, and if you haven't you STILL wouldn't have bought it, it wouldn't hurt the seller. Doing it your own will not be EXACTLY the same as the original anyhow, so you're really not hurting anyone ;)

I hate making “you should do this” comments but you should make petticoats for your more flat skirts/dresses! You could use fabric scraps or fabrics that you don’t like anymore but just can’t get rid of because “what if I need them” haha edit: or maybe some kind of hoop skirt contraption seeing as your city is insistent on demonstrating what standing too close to a bon fire feels like

When you are getting into linings (or even facings) I cannot recommend understitching enough! I watched the Evelyn Woods video on it, and now I line everything and understitch the heck out of it. I hate having the seam edges against my skin, but I usually don't want the look of topstitching. And the greatest thing about understitching? If it wobbles a little bit from the edge of the seam, that's fine, no one else will see it. The other greatest thing? It acts as the finishing for those fabric edges!

Rachel! For the loops, they are actually a single piece sewn into the garment 😅 like a long strip of elastic cording wiggling and occasionally forming loops. In my experience as a seamstress, they're not too bad to sew in and are available on Wawak (button looping)! Honestly, if you ever need notions or tools, I'd always check Wawak first!!

For the bust, you should put a small running stitch on the inside of the bust, then pull it ever so slightly so it curves towards your chest. It'll make it fit just ever so much better.

I love the intro the nature and I was not expecting that THATS RIGHT IM A CHEAP AZZ BIT@# part lol epic

This is definitely an "inspired by" piece, not so much light plagiarism. You have given credit to the original, and it is not at all exact or meant to sell to others. Inspiration in the art world is a wonderful thing.

light plagiarism, ok: -making for personal use -open about the design/garment/person you took inspo from plain old regular plagiarism: -no credit to the original creators -people point out that you used the design from some else and you pretend not know/make excuses (even worse when big creators steal from smaller ones and don't credit) -reselling the recreation under the guise that you designed it yourself also!! designs are art!! nothing is new and artists always use references. it gets tricky especially with clothing but there are differences between inspirations and recreations and whether or not people do the bare minimum of crediting their fellow artists!! Rachel always does a great job of crediting designers, which I greatly appreciate!! Recreations themselves take a lot of skill, I feel like people underplay it because the creators don't "design the look" themselves but it requires a lot of knowledge and skill. Rachel uses her powers for good (and the aesthetic) 😖

I lurrvvvvv this dress (+ you) SO MUCH. ♥️ OBSESSED 😍👏👏👏

YES QUEEN OF THE FOREST , RACHEL HAS BLESSED OUR NOTIFICATION🤍 ALL HAIL!

The reason I love you so much Rachel is because you give me all the content I would make if I were a RU-vidr. Frickin chaotic energy at every corner, confusion, and yet you also give us the comfy cottage vibes, fantasy forest fairy, and cute puppo. You are everything I aspire to be and I love you.

I'm a bit of a nut, so I calculated the yardage equivalent of standard sheet sizes: twin = 4 yds of 45" fabric, double = 4.75 yds, queen = 5.66 yds, and king = 6.75. 😄

Can't wait for this one! Such a pretty dress! Don't feel guilty for remaking something pricey. When I was a teen, I wanted a Gunny Sax dress in the worst way, but they were so expensive. My mom made me one that was prettier (and probably better made) than the originals. At 52, I still have it. Keep on sewing! 1💜💜💜

I think this is my favorite thing you've sewn this year. Like I'd wear this 5 days a week.

The original dress is cute but dresses with similar styles have been around for years. I don't think you "copying" it is plagiarism at all, especially with all the changes you made. Also even if it's sustainable fashion, there's no way I'd pay that much for that dress.

Okay, reasonably speaking I'm pretty sure roughly 60% of EVERYBODY had exactly that dress in the 1970s (colorful embroidery or crochet lace embellishment optional). I'm also pretty sure that's my great-aunt's wedding dress (she married a bit later in life). My mother's wedding dress was very similar as well, she married in 1981, it was just a higher neckline and made of some shiny fabric that was probably horrifically meltable.

Rachel is my inspiration to just go for it and try not to over think everything. I’m so impressed with how far she’s come!

Fabric covered buttons are just not something I ever thought one could make themselves?? It just goes to show we really do have the power to make whatever we want!

OMG I did the same rewriting-fav-book thing as a kid! I wrote a "sequel" to The Lord of the Rings, complete with a letter to Christopher Tolkien (estate holder at the time) explaining why it was worth being published and in LOTR canon 😂 Main problem was I started writing it about 3/4 of the way through the first book and then there was a whole bunch of character ~deaths~ that little 11 year old me did not anticipate and so I had to add a disclaimer at the front of the book that "this was what would have happened IF so-and-so-this-and-that-etc") Ah for the confidence of middle schoolers once again!

You. Turned a bedsheet. Into. That! That stinkin' cuteness?! How? HOW!?!

So I don’t know how you snuck in that you wrote a Harry Potter book in there and not expected us to want to hear the whole thing like way to leave us hanging lmao But seriously that part had me dying I had tears running down my face the illustrations made my week

Filming Rachel: Camp Counselor Milo Thatch Editing Rachel: Just actual Milo Thatch

looks amazing! it's really cool to see how far you're getting with sewing. Also the bias tape behind the buttons is legitimately a very smart tactic. Idk why but modern dresses rarely have good button reinforcement, that's almost all button ups have boop gap... So i think it's time to bring back proper buttons.

Even though eleven-year-old Rachel's unfinished Harry Potter novel still gives her sleepless nights, she certainly did a spellbindingly magical job at making all of those buttons.

As an employee of Joann’s it really does depend on the combination of who’s working

The butt shuffle across the floor !!!!! Yesss I'm not the only one !!!!! It's the absolute best way to get around on the floor while sewing!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

If Milo Thatch was a camp counselor, I wouldn't mind going to an American summer camp... Just saying xD

The drawing of Harry Potter reaching for his wand will live in my head forever, thank you so much for sharing

I just wanted to tell you that you've inspired me to really get into sewing and explore my sense of style. You're so relateable and are so open about the process of creating your projects it's made it a lot less intimidating for me to get started. :)

Just wanted to say that I made myself a dress this last week for the first time and you really gave me the courage to go for it! I'm much more comfortable quilting and you made me feel like making clothes is totally doable. Thank you so much!

I feel like what you're doing is the fashion version of direct quoting or paraphrasing, which in academics are not considered morally questionable at all. Really, they are expected because it's difficult to have a %100 original thought at this point. So I think you're fine.

I appreciate your sense of humor and your willingness to take risks. I am inspired!

Rachel talking about the end result of the dress is literally me talking about the end result of a birthday cake I did today.xD "Overall I think it came together a lot more that I thought it was going to" "I kindda like that it looks home made, I know that's a cop-out." Seeing all the things that could be better but accepting perfection is non-existant and that you're still learning is the key to it all. Love it!

"We love looking accidentally more professional than we actually are!" Mood Rachel, Big Mood, I've been making a skirt and winging the top in the hopes of gathering it and it's working way better than I anticipated so I feel you.

Rachel Masky the only RU-vidr whose videos I can watch over and not be bored and still laugh at the same jokes like I never heard them before.

"and now it is time... for the REVEAL" is how I picture Rachel being a D&D dungeon master 😂

No one can casually vibe Milo Thatch better than Rachel.

Yes! Please make your screen shot wish list a series!!!

Rachel: * Points out every flaw * Me: I thought it was really pretty...

Omg I adore how it looks off the shoulders. So romantic! Add a petticoat and underbust bustier and you'd have some peak hobbit vibes. The sleeves are gorgeous and though they were annoying to do the buttons are pretty. Definitely sounds like another series that would be fun to watch.

Watching Rachel eat Macaroni frustratedly reminded me of an Oscar Wilde quote. "I can't exactly eat muffins in an agitated manner- I'd get butter on my cuffs."

I would love to see you re-create Sarah’s cosplay dress from Labyrinth! Also, as a fellow MA resident, I know exactly the days you filmed this on, and I applaud your perseverance. It was seriously the 9th circle of Hell. The end result is really charming, very 1980s Gunne Sax vibe.

Oh I love it off the shoulders

whenever I wear a neutral tee-shirt tucked into kaki shorts, people always say I look like a camp councilor. Like, clearly I was going for "archeologist", Karen!

Yes make this a series! I think it's really interesting to see people break down designs and put them back together. Also your sewing skills will probably sky rocket after making a bunch of daily wear clothes so it'd be cool to rewatch the series from start to finish!

having a really tough time rn, and I'm going through some older videos that I somehow missed, and can I just say the comfort is needed and appreciated 😭💖 thank you for sharing your ever evolving creative journey, it's both inspiring and.... well, comforting lol also this dress came out really stinkin cute!

I really believe that ALL designers use a base pattern and just... decorate it slightly differently. It's faster that way and you know it'll (mostly) work. So copying someone else really isn't a problem unless you're trying to sell the copies. I fully support you trying to recreate garments you'd like to own (heck, that's what got me interested in sewing - I too, am a cheap-ass bitch) and I look forward to learning along with you!!!

You are on the right track with the elastic loops. Just tie the loose ends together and sew right next to the knot. That way the elastic can't slip out and you don't have to stitch trough the elastic stand. And to save time by only making loops to about your hips (fit dependent), the seam can be seen closed and buttons can just be stickers on. No one will tell the difference.