British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Styling Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Passes Away at Age 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the groundbreaking British fashion designer behind a series of unforgettable images worn by artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has sadly died aged 80.
He was celebrated for his architectural shapes and dramatic aesthetics, most notably the light-hued ensembles that featured in the pop-rock group Duran Duran's classic music video for "their hit Rio".
"Remembering him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message on social media."
His passing follows less than a month after he debuted his most recent collection in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Singer Lily Allen walked in a dress inspired by the notorious black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" once worn by Princess Diana.
An Enduring Influence
A native of Yorkshire, born in 1945, Price headed for London in the early 1960s to enroll at the renowned Royal College of Art.
Shortly after his graduation, he started his work in clothing for men at the company Stirling Copper and was behind the body-hugging, buttoned trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger sported during The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter tour in 1969.
He launched his own brand in 1979 and held his debut runway presentation a year later. The show opened with outfits on model Jerry Hall, who also wore the marriage dress Price specifically designed for her nuptials with Sir Mick Jagger.
Collaborations with Icons
A long-time collaborator of David Bowie, Price created the distinctive jacket the star wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to blend menswear and womenswear along with his technical proficiency in crafting form-fitting garments established him as a "genuine original," as stated by the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he began working on ensembles for Camilla, now Queen Consort, such as several ensembles for her American tour after assuming the title.
With a vocation that covered half a century, Price staged what would be his last show in London last month in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: A hallmark of his work.
- Performative Style: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Genre-Blending Design: 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 genuine innovator whose legacy on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.
