British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Creating Looks for Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Fashion legend Antony Price, the groundbreaking style architect who crafted some of the most iconic looks associated with musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has died aged 80.
Price was best known for his defined forms and theatrical styles, most notably the pastel suits that featured in the iconic band Duran Duran's classic music video for "Rio".
"They honored him as 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, his first in more than 30 years. The performer Lily Allen walked in a dress evoking the iconic black velvet "revenge dress" historically worn by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price moved to London in the early 1960s to study at the renowned Royal College of Art.
Upon completing his studies, he began designing men's fashion at the label Stirling Copper and was the creator of the form-fitting, button-fly pants that Sir Mick Jagger wore during the band's Gimme Shelter tour in 1969.
He founded his own label in 1979 and held his debut runway presentation a year later. The show opened with looks from supermodel Jerry Hall, who later wore the marriage dress Price specifically designed for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Collaborations with Icons
A frequent collaborator of David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the distinctive jacket the star wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His signature ability to merge tailoring for all genders along with his expert craftsmanship in shaping sculptural silhouettes established him as a "one-of-a-kind talent," as stated by the UK's fashion authority.
In the 1990s, he began working on pieces for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, including several ensembles for her American tour after becoming Duchess.
Following a profession lasting half a century, Price held his ultimate fashion presentation in London last month in conjunction with the fashion brand 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: Central to his design philosophy.
- Theatrical Flair: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Gender-Fluid Fashion: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- Clients from Stage to Palace: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
Design circles says farewell to a authentic original whose influence on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.