Lou Schad is a costume designer, fashion stylist, and film director whose work brings characters and stories vividly to life across film, fashion, and art. She most recently designed costumes for You’re Dating a Narcissist!, written and directed by Ann Marie Allison and before that, Reverse the Curse, written, directed by, and starring David Duchovny. Other credits include Above the Line (dir. Jeffrey Scott Collins), Walter (dir. Anna Mastro), MTV’s Finding Carter, and a wide range of film, television, commercial, and live theater projects.
Lou’s film career began working alongside Ang Lee and costume designer Joseph Aulisi on Taking Woodstock, authentically recreating the iconic clothing of the legendary music festival. She later served as wardrobe supervisor on acclaimed films such as Winter’s Bone, Friends with Kids, 2 Days in New York, Pan Am, and Out of the Furnace. Over 15 years, Lou has collaborated with many esteemed directors and actors, establishing herself as a respected presence in costume design.
Her creative practice is grounded in formal training as a fiber artist, earning a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art with additional studies at Parsons School of Design. Lou’s work extends beyond costume design into directing and experiential storytelling—rooted in a belief that design is a tactile language capable of revealing truth, intimacy, and emotional depth.
Explore her portfolio to see how these disciplines intersect, shaping immersive worlds through costume, film, art and community=driven experiences.