Antony Price, Celebrated for Designing for Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Passes Away at Age 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the influential style architect who crafted a series of unforgettable images favored by David Bowie, Roxy Music, and Queen Camilla, has died at 80 years old.
He was celebrated for his defined forms and performative fashion, such as the light-hued ensembles that appeared in rock band Duran Duran's landmark music video for "Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message across their platforms."
His passing follows shortly after he unveiled his newest line in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Singer Lily Allen modelled a dress evoking the iconic black velvet "dress" once worn by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price moved to London during the sixties to enroll at the renowned Royal College of Art.
Shortly after his graduation, he commenced his career designing menswear at Stirling Copper and was the creator of the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger wore during The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" tour in 1969.
He established his eponymous line in 1979 and staged his first fashion show a year later. The show was launched by creations worn by model Jerry Hall, who later wore the wedding dress Price specifically designed for her nuptials with Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A long-time collaborator of the late David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the iconic jacket the singer wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to blend elements of men's and women's fashion along with his masterful technique in crafting form-fitting garments cemented his status as a "genuine original," in the words of the UK's fashion authority.
By the 1990s, he started creating ensembles for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, including several ensembles for her tour of the United States after becoming Duchess.
After a career spanning over fifty years, Price presented his final runway show in London just last month in partnership with the design house 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: The core of his aesthetic.
- Dramatic Impact: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Genre-Blending Design: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
Design circles mourns the loss to a true visionary whose legacy on fashion and music remains deeply ingrained.
