British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Creating Looks for Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Fashion legend Antony Price, the visionary UK-based designer responsible for a series of unforgettable images worn by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has died aged 80.
His reputation was built on his sculptured silhouettes and performative fashion, including the light-hued ensembles that featured in the pop-rock group Duran Duran's landmark music video for "Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the band released a statement online."
His passing follows just weeks after he presented his newest line in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Singer Lily Allen showcased a dress evoking the notorious black velvet "revenge dress" once worn by the late Princess Diana.
An Enduring Influence
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price relocated to London at the start of the 1960s to study at the prestigious Royal College of Art.
Upon completing his studies, he commenced his career designing men's fashion at Stirling Copper and was the creator of the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger sported during the band's Gimme Shelter tour in 1969.
He founded his own label in 1979 and staged his first fashion show a year later. The show was launched by creations worn by model Jerry Hall, who was also seen in the marriage dress Price created for her for her nuptials with Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A key creative partner of musical chameleon David Bowie, Price designed the distinctive jacket the singer 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 expert craftsmanship in shaping sculptural silhouettes cemented his status as a "genuine original," according to the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he started creating ensembles for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, which included various looks for her tour of the United States after becoming Duchess.
After a career spanning more than five decades, Price staged what would be his last show in London just last month in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: A hallmark of his work.
- Theatrical Flair: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Genre-Blending Design: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
The industry mourns the loss to a genuine innovator whose impact on style and culture remains profoundly felt.
