Resume + Bio

Loretta Harper
Designer

From Jack White to the Ryman Auditorium, Steven Tyler to Reba McEntire, Loretta Harper Is leaving her mark on the music industry one bespoke design at a time. Having started her career in costume design for clubs where she was a dancer, Harper’s experience runs the gamut from film, television, and music videos to world tours, commercial productions, award shows, and documentaries, preservation, and conservation.

Harper honed her design skills throughout her primary school years after she grew interested in thrifting due to her unique style preferences and petite size. At 5’0”, custom tailored clothing has always been both more comfortable and more flattering on her frame. Rather than settle for less or rely on a tailor, Harper learned to deconstruct and repair her clothing, tearing damaged garments apart and preserving pieces she’d found by Dior and other classic designers.

A performer herself, Harper’s passion for fashion design stems from a deep understanding of the rich history of textiles and the fashion industry, as well as what her clients need to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Harper’s first costuming gig was at the Ace of Clubs, a now-defunct nightclub that used to call Nashville home. As a go-go dancer at the venue, Harper was responsible for not only costuming herself, but all the dancers in the company. At the age of eighteen, she was transferred to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Harper remarks, “I went to be a dance manager and build costumes in this very sixties, whiskey-a-go-go style club. The dancing was freestyle, and I had a $100 weekly allowance to thrift vintage girdles and different things I could cut apart and make new again. There was a lot of freedom in my life, and I loved it.”

“I always take the environment into consideration. It is my job to always keep my client comfortable. It doesn’t matter if you’re a singer on tour or an individual coming to me for a gala gown, if you’re not comfortable in your clothes, you’re not going to be yourself. When it comes to designing, I draw my inspiration from whoever the person is that I’m working with. They must be the original who stands out and sets the standards.”

Now with her own studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Harper has costumed 30 feature films, 21 television productions, 7 tours, 17 music videos, 34 commercial productions, as well as many historical documentaries and independent projects.  Harper’s project list has included such artists and venues The Ryman Auditorium, Jack White, Third Man Records, Jerrod Neimann, Steven Tyler, ZZ Top, Cam, DMX, Nikki Sixx, and Ann Margaret.

Harper places equal emphasis on historical accuracy and proper preservation in her conservation work. She is the textile archivist for the Elvis Presley estate at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, in addition to her full-time employment with Reba McEntire and has acted as conservationist and consultant on countless historical projects, restoring pieces for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Tour Productions

Stylist/Dresser | Reba McEntire | Tour 2019
Stylist/Dresser | Reba McEntire | Vegas Residency 2019
Custom Wardrobe | Ace Frehley Band | Tour 2019
Custom Wardrobe | Loving Mary Band | Tour 2019
Dresser | Kelly Clarkson | Promo Tour 2018
Dresser | Kelly Clarkson | Promo Tour 2017
Nashville Mermaid Touring Tailor | Lady Gaga | Dive Bar Tour 2016
Nashville Tailor | Justin Timberlake/ Tom Ford Tennman Touring | Tour 2013
Prep Tour Tailor | Justin Timberlake/ Tom Ford Tennman Touring | Tour 2013
Designer | Jack White III/ Monotone INC  | Tour 2012

Television Productions

Stylist | Reba McEntire/Grand Ole Opry | NBC’s 4th of July Spectacular 2021
Stylist | Ryman Auditorium/Reba McEntire | Save Our Stages 2020
Stylist/Dresser | Reba McEntire | Grammy Awards 2019
Stylist | Reba McEntire (host) | 53rd American Country Music Association Awards 2018
Stylist | Reba McEntire (host) | Country Music Association Christmas Special 2018
Stylist | Reba McEntire (winner) | Grammy Awards 2018
Stylist | Reba McEntire (host) | 51st Country Music Association Awards 2017
Set Costumer | “Still The King” (season 1) | 2015-16
Key
Set Costumer | “Quarry” | Abel Meet Cain Productions, LLC 2013
Additional Costumer | “Nashville” | Music City Productions 2012
Additional Costumer | “Nashville” (pilot) | Music City Productions 2012
Designer (dancers) | “CMA Music Awards” | CMA Productions 2011
Set Costumer | “Tough Trade” | Tough Trade Prod. Inc. 2009
Costumer/Fittings | “Elvis” | L.I.F.T. Productions 2005
Designer/Key Costumer | “The History of Blue Bell” | Blue Bell Ice Cream 2001
Set Costumer | “Walker Texas Ranger” | Amadea Film Production 2001
Designer/Key Costumer | “Culture of Silence” | H.C.C.T.V. 2000
Wardrobe Stylist | “Power Lunch” | CNBC 2000
Wardrobe Stylist | “Animal Planet” | Pennant Productions 1998-1999
Designer/Key Costumer | “Jesse Jones-Brother Can You..” | Spy Pond Productions 1998

Music Videos

Toby Mac | “Help Is on The Way” | Broken Poet Productions 2021
Reba McEntire/Cody Johnson | “Dear Rodeo” | August 2020
CAM | “Burning House” | June 2015
Steven Tyler | “Love Is Your Name” | Big Feather Productions 2015
Emma Hewitt | “Alive Again” | Ruckus Films 2015
Colton Dixon | “More Of You” | Broken Poet Productions 2014
Jerrod Niemann | “Donkey” | Broken Poet Productions 2014
Eric Pasley | “Song About a Girl” | Ruckus Films 2014
The Newsboys | “I Believe” | Broken Poet Productions 2014
Counting Crows | “Broken Together” | Broken Poet Productions 2014
Sweet Water Rain | “Star Shine” | Broken Poet Production 2012
Jack White | “I’m Shakin” | Third Man Records 2012
Jack White | “Love Interruption” | Third Man Records 2011
DMX | “Party Up” (Grammy Nomination) | F.M.Rocks 2000
Linda Gayle Lewis | “I’d Rather Stay Home” | Cinevox Productions 1997
ZZ Top | “She’s Just Killing Me” | Oil Factory Inc. 1997
Clay Walker | “Hypnotize the Moon” | Bill Young Productions 1995

Feature Films

Designer, Costumer for Reba McEntire | Christmas In Tune | Hartbreak Films
Costume Supervisor | “Woodlawn” | Woodlawn Production LLC
Costume Designer | “My Many Sons” | My Many Sons LLC
Costume Designer |“Nobody” | Sideburn Cinema
Key Set Costumer | “After Darkness” | Camelia Entertainment
Additional Costumer | “The Identical” | Identical Productions
Additional Costumer | “42” | Forbes Fields, LLC
Key Set Costumer | “Stoker” | Saddleshoe Productions
Key Set Costumer | “Deadline” | Good Film Hunting, LLC
Key Set Costumer | “Outlaw Country” | Outlaw Productions, LLC
Key Set Costumer | “LOL” | LOL Productions, LLC
Set Costumer | “Country Strong” | LDLMD Inc.
Seamstress | “Final Destination 4” | Flipzide Pictures
Key Set Costumer | “12 Rounds” | WWE Films Productions
Set Costumer/re-shoots | “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” | Paramount Productions
Set Costumer/Fittings | “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” | Paramount Productions
Key Set Costumer | “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond” | Teardrop Productions
Additional Costumer | “American Violet” | Uncommon Productions
Key Set Costumer | “The Yellow Handkerchief” | Corbele Film Productions
Costumer/Fittings | “Pride” | L.I.F.T. Productions
Costume Supervisor | “Premonition” | Premonition Productions
Costumer for Ashley Judd | “Bug” | L.I.F.T. Productions
Costumer for Ashley Judd | “Come Early Morning” | Come Early Morning Prod.
Costumer | “The Last Holiday” | Paramount Pictures
Costume Supervisor | “The King” | Corpus Christi, LLC
Supervisor/Key Costumer | “The Gunman” | Pure Motive
Supervisor/Key Costumer | “Rolling Kansas” | Rolling Kansas, LLC
Set Costumer | “Serving Sara” | Flipped Films
Key Set Costumer | “At Any Cost” | VH1/Charter
Costumer | “The Reaping” | Chime Productions
Key Set Costumer | “Ray of Light” | Cornelia

Awards Shows + Live Events + Artist Promo

Reba McEntire | Ryman Auditorium | The Grand Ole Opry 2021
Reba McEntire | Country Music Hall of Fame | Night at the Museum 2020
Reba McEntire | Country Music Hall of Fame | “Rumor Has It” promo re-release 2020
Reba McEntire | Living & Learning with Reba McEntire Promo Shoot | Spotify 2020
Reba McEntire | 54th CMA Awards | Promo Photoshoot 2020
Reba McEntire (host) | 54th ACM Awards 2020
Reba McEntire (recipient) | Country Music Television “Artist of the Year” Lifetime Achievement” 2019
Reba McEntire (performer) | National Songwriter’s Association Awards, Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award to honor Loretta Lynn 2019
Reba McEntire | Celebrity Fight Night 2019
Reba McEntire | Stronger Than The Truth | Album & Promo Shoot 2019
Kelly Clarkson | VIP Tour Display Cases 2019
Reba McEntire (honoree/recipient) | Kennedy Center Honors 2018
Reba McEntire | Masterclass | August 2016
SkyPac | “Spamalot” 2013 (wigs)
SkyPac | “Shriek” 2012 (wigs)

Acting

Henry | “That Old Misery” | | Director Grey Creasey 2017
Stunt Person | “Nashville: When You’re Tired of Breaking Other Hearts” | 2013

Commercial Productions

Stylist | Lysol | Frame Works Studios
Stylist | VisionWorks | Frame Works Studios 2017
Wardrobe Assistant | Rooms To Go/Blake Shelton | Cannonball Productions
Assistant to Designer | Krystal | Running 4 Cover 2012
Assistant to Designer | Shoney’s | Trio Films 2011
Designer/Key Costumer | Compaq | Media Motion 2000
Designer/Key Costumer | Compaq-Ipaq | Wild Blue Yonder 2000
Stylist/Key Costumer | Academy | Locke Bryan Productions 1998, 99, 2000
Key Wardrobe | Conoco | Cucoloris Films 2000
Designer/Key Costumer | U of H | Cucoloris Films 1999
Designer/Key Costumer | Carraba’s | Sycamore Productions 1999
Designer/Key Costumer | Texas Tourism | Production Works 1999
Key Wardrobe/Make-up | The Rockets-NBA | M-80 Productions 1999
Key Wardrobe/Make-up | Houston Arena Referendum | Axelfod & Assoc. Production 1999
Key Wardrobe/Make-up | Attorney General/P.S.A. | Production Works 1999
Designer/Key Costumer | Compaq | Compaq 1999
Wardrobe Supervisor | DeBeers “Millennium” | Will Van Der Vlugt 1999
Designer/Key Costumer | The Tube | KTBU 1998,1999
Stylist | “Houston Open” | Berman Films 1999
Key Wardrobe | Kroger | Koetz & Company 1998
Designer/Key Costumer | Best | Best Buy Productions 1998
Key Wardrobe | Sonic | Huge Productions 1998
Key Wardrobe | Entex Gas | Berman Films 1997
Designer| Compaq 1940’s | Media Motion 1997
Key Wardrobe | Randall’s | Bill Young Productions 1997
Costumer | McDonald’s |1/33 Productions 1997
Key Wardrobe/Seamstress | Charles Barkley-NBA | Sunrise Pictures 1997
Key Wardrobe | Hakeem Olajuwon-NBA | Tony Kaye Films 1996
Key Wardrobe | HL&P Electric | Tony Kaye Films 1996
Key Wardrobe/Make-up | NBA | Tony Kaye Films 1996
Key Wardrobe/Make-up | NBA | Red Cat Productions 1996
Designer/Seamstress/Makeup | “Funny Girl” Debbie Gibson | Bill Young Productions 1996
Key Wardrobe | “Death Trap” Elliot Gould | Bill Young Productions 1996
Designer/Seamstress/Makeup | “Pokka Coffee” Carl Lewis (Japanese) | Pearlman Productions 1996

Commercial Print

Stylist | “Don’t Let Your Food Control You” | Custom Build 2015
Stylist/Key Costumer | Mary Lou Retton | People Magazine 1996
Key Wardrobe/Make-up | NBA “I Love This Stuff” | Red Cat Productions 1996

Documentaries

Designer | “1871” | Tennessee Performing Arts Center and Fisk University 2021
Designer | “The Soul of Nashville” | Ryman Auditorium and BRC Imagination Arts 2015

Historical Preservation

Textile Archivist | Elvis Presley Enterprises 2019 – present

Fashion Shows

Fashion Panelist | “Fashion in the Film Industry” | Nashville Film Festival 2014
“East Nashville Chicken Chase” | Fashion Show 2014
Fashion Show Judge | O’More School of Design 2013

Related Experience and Skills

Designer and Seamstress of Theatrical Costumes | Performing Arts Co. 1995-1996 | Houston, TX
Costume Director of Theatrical Productions | Frankel’s Costume Co. 1995 |
Houston, TX
Costumes Designer and Seamstress of Theatrical Costumes | Razzle Dazzle 1993-1994 | Chicago, IL
Professional Dancer/Manager/Costume Designer | Club Luna 1992-1993 | Santa Fe, NM
Professional Dancer/Costume Designer | Ace of Clubs 1989-1992 | Nashville, TN