British Designer Antony Price, Renowned for Creating Looks for Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the influential style architect behind a series of unforgettable images worn by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has sadly died at the age of 80.
He was celebrated for his sculptured silhouettes and dramatic aesthetics, such as the light-hued ensembles that became famous from the iconic band Duran Duran's landmark music video for "their hit Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message online."
This news arrives less than a month after he presented his most recent collection in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Artist Lily Allen modelled a dress evoking the famous black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" historically worn by Princess Diana.
An Enduring Influence
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price relocated to London in the early 1960s to attend the renowned Royal College of Art.
Shortly after his graduation, he started his work in menswear at the label Stirling Copper and was responsible for the form-fitting, button-fly pants that The Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger famously wore during the band's Gimme Shelter tour in 1969.
He founded his own label in 1979 and held his debut runway presentation a year later. The show featured as its opener outfits on supermodel Jerry Hall, who also wore the bridal gown Price specifically designed for her marriage to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A key creative partner of David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the iconic jacket the artist wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His signature ability to fuse menswear and womenswear along with his technical proficiency in shaping sculptural silhouettes made him a "one-of-a-kind talent," as stated by the British Fashion Council.
By the 1990s, he started creating ensembles for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, including a number of outfits for her American tour after assuming the title.
After a career spanning half a century, Price presented his final runway show in London recently in collaboration with the label 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: Central to his design philosophy.
- Theatrical Flair: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Genre-Blending Design: Creating a unique, androgynous style.
- Clients from Stage to Palace: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
The industry mourns the loss to a genuine innovator whose legacy on fashion and music remains profoundly felt.
