British Designer Antony Price, Famed for Designing for Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Fashion legend Antony Price, the visionary 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 passed away at 80 years old.
Price was best known for his defined forms and dramatic aesthetics, such as the soft-colored suits that became famous from the pop-rock group Duran Duran's landmark music video for "their hit Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message on social media."
This news arrives less than a month after he presented his most recent collection in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Artist Lily Allen walked in a dress inspired by the famous black velvet "dress" historically worn by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
A native of Yorkshire, born in 1945, Price headed for London at the start of the 1960s to study at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
Upon completing his studies, he commenced his career designing men's fashion at Stirling Copper and was behind the form-fitting, button-fly pants that The Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger famously wore during the iconic group's "Gimme Shelter" tour in the late sixties.
He established his eponymous line in 1979 and held his debut runway presentation a year later. The show was launched by creations worn by supermodel Jerry Hall, who later wore the wedding dress Price specifically designed for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A key creative partner of the late David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the iconic jacket the singer wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to merge menswear and womenswear along with his expert craftsmanship in shaping form-fitting garments made him a "one-of-a-kind talent," as stated by the UK's fashion authority.
In the 1990s, he began working on ensembles for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, such as several ensembles for her tour of the United States after assuming the title.
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: A hallmark of his work.
- Dramatic Impact: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Boundary-Pushing Tailoring: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
The fashion world says farewell to a genuine innovator whose legacy on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.
