Lack of gender neutral pronouns discussion at UT >>See page 3
Opinion: “It’s because some people live in Candyland.” >>See page 7
Jones discusses “impressive” Bama team >>See page 8
Costume supplier enters ‘act two’ Megan Patterson Arts & Culture Editor Ramona Didier has a photographic memory. Didier stood in her shop, Big Don the Costumier, surrounded by a seemingly endless stretch of racks of clothes and shared how she can simply look at an actor to fit them for costumes. “One girl did not know me at all and said, ‘Who’s that, doesn’t she measure us?’ And someone else said, ‘No, that’s just Ramona,’” Didier said. For more than 40 years, Didier has been providing clothing for school and church productions or for individual use. Big Don the Costumier recently moved from the store’s original location on S. Central Street to the current building at 121 W. Jackson, but the change in location didn’t bring a change in pace for Didier, who said she continues to stay busy and perpetually expanding. Didier’s passion for costuming and vintage clothing began with a family business. Her mother opened a rummage sale in the 1950s at the current Jig and Reel location. That haphazard sale grew into a rummage and antique store called “Big Don’s Elegant Junque” that moved to several locations throughout downtown Knoxville through
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the ‘50s and ‘60s. The red velvet barbershop chair that sits near the entrance to Big Don the Costumier is a relic from the old store, one that her father used to sit in beside the front door each day. Didier credited her perfectionism to her mother, who she said was known to turn down customers if she felt that her shop didn’t have something just right for their needs. The way Didier caters to the exact requirements of each customer is by keeping an enormous stock of costuming and clothing for any occasion. Each row of clothing moves into a different time period or theme, and Didier can lead the way down the winding path of racks and point out each item on the hangers. The journey begins at the front of the store with Victorian Era dresses Didier typically uses for musicals like “Oklahoma!” or “Hello, Dolly!” or portrayals of Southern Belles. Flapper garb from the 1920s follows and men’s renaissance costumes come up close behind. There are dresses for Cinderella and her stepsisters beside a rack holding clothing for pirates, civil war soldiers and Liberace impersonators. See BIG DON’S on Page 7
Costumes in stock at Big Don the Costumier. All Photos by Megan Patterson • The Daily Beacon
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Tuesday, October 20, 2015