British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Creating Looks for David Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Antony Price, the influential British fashion designer behind some of the most iconic looks favored by artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has passed away at 80 years old.
He was celebrated for his sculptured silhouettes and dramatic aesthetics, such as the soft-colored suits that appeared in the iconic band Duran Duran's seminal music video for "the song Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the group posted a remembrance across their platforms."
His passing follows just weeks after he unveiled his most recent collection in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Singer Lily Allen walked in a dress evoking the famous black velvet "revenge dress" historically worn by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price moved to London in the early 1960s to enroll at the renowned Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he started his work in menswear at the company Stirling Copper and was the creator of the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger famously wore during The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" tour in the late sixties.
He founded his own label in 1979 and staged his first fashion show a year later. The show featured as its opener creations worn by supermodel Jerry Hall, who also wore the bridal gown Price created for her for her marriage to Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A long-time collaborator of the late David Bowie, Price created the memorable jacket the star wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to merge elements of men's and women's fashion along with his technical proficiency in shaping body-hugging looks made him a "one-of-a-kind talent," according to the UK's fashion authority.
By the 1990s, he commenced designing pieces for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, including several ensembles for her American tour following her marriage.
With a vocation that covered more than five decades, Price staged what would be his last show in London last month in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Sculpted Silhouettes: The core of his aesthetic.
- Dramatic Impact: Influencing music videos and stagewear.
- Gender-Fluid Fashion: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- Clients from Stage to Palace: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
The industry laments the passing to a authentic original whose influence on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.
