Antony Price, Celebrated for Creating Looks for Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Antony Price, the groundbreaking UK-based 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.
Price was best known for his architectural shapes and performative fashion, most notably the soft-colored suits that appeared in the pop-rock group Duran Duran's landmark music video for "the song Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message online."
His passing follows just weeks after he presented his most recent collection in London, his first in more than 30 years. Singer Lily Allen modelled a dress that paid homage to the iconic black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" made famous by Diana, Princess of Wales.
A Lasting Legacy
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price moved to London in the early 1960s to study at the prestigious Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he commenced his career designing men's fashion at Stirling Copper and was behind the form-fitting, button-fly pants that rock legend Mick Jagger famously wore during the band's "Gimme Shelter" tour in 1969.
He launched his own brand in 1979 and presented his inaugural collection a year later. The show featured as its opener creations worn by the famed model Jerry Hall, who later wore the bridal gown Price created for her for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A key creative partner of the late David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the memorable jacket the star wore for his "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 sculptural silhouettes established him as a "true original," according to the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he commenced designing ensembles for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, which included several ensembles for her tour of the United States after becoming Duchess.
After a career spanning more than five decades, Price held his ultimate fashion presentation in London last month in partnership with the design house 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: Central to his design philosophy.
- Performative Style: Influencing music videos and stagewear.
- Genre-Blending Design: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
The industry says farewell to a authentic original whose impact on the visual landscape of music remains profoundly felt.
