Antony Price, Renowned for Styling Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the visionary UK-based designer who crafted some of the most iconic looks associated with artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has sadly died at 80 years old.
His reputation was built on his architectural shapes and dramatic aesthetics, including the soft-colored suits that became famous from rock band Duran Duran's landmark music video for "the song Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him 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 most recent collection in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Artist Lily Allen walked in a dress inspired by the iconic black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" made famous by Princess Diana.
An Enduring Influence
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price headed for London in the early 1960s to attend the renowned Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he began designing clothing for men at Stirling Copper and was the creator of the body-hugging, buttoned trousers that Sir Mick Jagger famously wore during the band's "Gimme Shelter" tour in 1969.
He established his eponymous line in 1979 and presented his inaugural collection a year later. The show was launched by creations worn by the famed model Jerry Hall, who was also seen in the marriage dress Price created for her for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A frequent collaborator of David Bowie, Price designed the distinctive jacket the star wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to merge elements of men's and women's fashion along with his masterful technique in designing form-fitting garments made him a "one-of-a-kind talent," in the words of the British Fashion Council.
By the 1990s, he started creating ensembles for Camilla, now Queen Consort, which included several ensembles for her tour of the United States after assuming the title.
With a vocation that covered over fifty years, Price staged what would be his last show in London last month in collaboration with the label 16Arlington.
- Sculpted Silhouettes: Central to his design philosophy.
- Theatrical Flair: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Gender-Fluid Fashion: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: Including music legends and the future Queen Consort.
Design circles laments the passing to a true visionary whose legacy on fashion and music remains indelibly etched.
