Antony Price, Famed for Creating Looks for Bowie and Duran Duran, Has Died Aged 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the influential UK-based designer responsible for some of the most iconic looks favored by artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has died at the age of 80.
His reputation was built on his sculptured silhouettes and dramatic aesthetics, such as the light-hued ensembles that became famous from rock band Duran Duran's landmark music video for "Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the band released a statement on social media."
Price's death comes shortly after he unveiled his newest line in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Artist Lily Allen walked in a dress that paid homage to the notorious black velvet "dress" historically worn by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
A native of Yorkshire, born in 1945, Price relocated to London during the sixties to attend the prestigious Royal College of Art.
Upon completing his studies, he began designing men's fashion at the company Stirling Copper and was the creator of the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger wore during The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter tour in the late sixties.
He launched his own brand in 1979 and held his debut runway presentation a year later. The show was launched by creations worn by supermodel Jerry Hall, who also wore the wedding dress Price created for her for her nuptials with Sir Mick Jagger.
Collaborations with Icons
A long-time collaborator of musical chameleon David Bowie, Price created the memorable jacket the singer wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His signature ability to blend elements of men's and women's fashion along with his expert craftsmanship in designing sculptural silhouettes established him as a "true original," according to the British Fashion Council.
By the 1990s, he commenced designing pieces for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, such as various looks for her tour of the United States after assuming the title.
With a vocation that covered over fifty years, Price staged what would be his last show in London last month in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: The core of his aesthetic.
- Performative Style: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Boundary-Pushing Tailoring: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- Clients from Stage to Palace: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
Design circles mourns the loss to a authentic original whose impact on style and culture remains profoundly felt.
