British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Designing for Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Fashion legend Antony Price, the groundbreaking style architect who crafted some of the most iconic looks favored by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has passed away aged 80.
He was celebrated for his architectural shapes and theatrical styles, most notably the soft-colored suits that became famous from the pop-rock group Duran Duran's classic music video for "the song Rio".
"Remembering him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message on social media."
His passing follows just weeks after he presented his most recent collection in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Singer Lily Allen showcased a dress that paid homage to the notorious black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" once worn by Diana, Princess of Wales.
A Pioneering Career
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price headed for London during the sixties to enroll at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he commenced his career designing menswear at Stirling Copper and was responsible for the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger famously wore during the band's "Gimme Shelter" tour in the late sixties.
He established his eponymous line in 1979 and presented his inaugural collection a year later. The show opened with outfits on model Jerry Hall, who also wore the wedding dress Price specifically designed for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A long-time collaborator of the late 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 merge elements of men's and women's fashion along with his technical proficiency in crafting form-fitting garments cemented his status as a "one-of-a-kind talent," according to the UK's fashion authority.
By the 1990s, he began working on pieces for Camilla, now Queen Consort, including several ensembles for her US tour following her marriage.
Following a profession lasting more than five decades, Price presented his final runway show in London just last month in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: Central to his design philosophy.
- Theatrical Flair: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Genre-Blending Design: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- Clients from Stage to Palace: Including music legends and the future Queen Consort.
The industry laments the passing to a authentic original whose impact on the visual landscape of music remains indelibly etched.
