Antony Price, Celebrated for Creating Looks for David Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the groundbreaking UK-based designer behind many legendary styles favored by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has passed away aged 80.
Price was best known for his sculptured silhouettes and performative fashion, such as the pastel suits that became famous from rock band Duran Duran's landmark music video for "their hit Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message online."
This news arrives just weeks after he presented his most recent collection in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Singer Lily Allen showcased a dress that paid homage to the famous black velvet "dress" historically worn by Princess Diana.
A Lasting Legacy
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price moved to London during the sixties to study at the prestigious Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he began designing clothing for men at the label Stirling Copper and was behind the form-fitting, button-fly pants that Sir Mick Jagger famously 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 was launched by looks from supermodel Jerry Hall, who also wore the marriage dress Price created for her for her marriage to Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A frequent collaborator of David Bowie, Price designed the distinctive jacket the singer wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to blend tailoring for all genders along with his masterful technique in designing form-fitting garments established him as a "one-of-a-kind talent," according to the British Fashion Council.
By the 1990s, he commenced designing pieces for Camilla, now Queen Consort, including several ensembles for her US tour after assuming the title.
With a vocation that covered half a century, Price presented his final runway show in London last month in collaboration 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: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
Design circles laments the passing to a authentic original whose impact on style and culture remains indelibly etched.
