British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Creating Looks for Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the groundbreaking style architect who crafted many legendary styles worn by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has sadly died at 80 years old.
Price was best known for his defined forms and dramatic aesthetics, most notably the light-hued ensembles that appeared in the pop-rock group 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,' the band released a statement on social media."
His passing follows shortly after he debuted his newest line in London, his first in more than 30 years. The performer Lily Allen walked in a dress evoking the famous black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" made famous by the late Princess Diana.
An Enduring Influence
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price headed for London at the start of the 1960s to enroll at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he began designing men's fashion at Stirling Copper and was the creator of the body-hugging, buttoned trousers that The Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger wore during the iconic group's "Gimme Shelter" tour in the late sixties.
He established his eponymous line in 1979 and held his debut runway presentation a year later. The show was launched by outfits on the famed model Jerry Hall, who also wore the bridal gown Price created for her for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A key creative partner of the late David Bowie, Price created the iconic jacket the star wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to blend tailoring for all genders along with his expert craftsmanship in designing form-fitting garments cemented his status as a "true original," in the words of the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he began working on ensembles for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, such as several ensembles for her tour of the United States after assuming the title.
Following a profession lasting half a century, Price presented his final runway show in London recently in conjunction with the fashion brand 16Arlington.
- Sculpted Silhouettes: Central to his design philosophy.
- Performative Style: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Boundary-Pushing Tailoring: Creating a unique, androgynous style.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
Design circles laments the passing to a true visionary whose influence on fashion and music remains deeply ingrained.
