British Designer Antony Price, Famed for Designing for David Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the groundbreaking style architect who crafted some of the most iconic looks worn by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has passed away at the age of 80.
His reputation was built on his sculptured silhouettes and theatrical styles, such as the soft-colored suits that featured in the pop-rock group Duran Duran's classic music video for "Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message online."
His passing follows less than a month after he unveiled his newest line in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Artist Lily Allen showcased a dress evoking the notorious black velvet "dress" historically worn by Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price relocated to London at the start of the 1960s to enroll at the prestigious Royal College of Art.
Upon completing his studies, he commenced his career designing men's fashion at the company Stirling Copper and was behind the form-fitting, button-fly pants that The Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger wore during the iconic group's Gimme Shelter tour in 1969.
He founded his own label in 1979 and presented his inaugural collection a year later. The show was launched by outfits on the famed model Jerry Hall, who was also seen in the marriage dress Price specifically designed for her nuptials with Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A long-time collaborator of David Bowie, Price designed the distinctive jacket the star wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to fuse elements of men's and women's fashion along with his expert craftsmanship in shaping form-fitting garments made him a "true original," according to the British Fashion Council.
During the nineties, he started creating ensembles for Camilla, now Queen Consort, including various looks for her US tour following her marriage.
With a vocation that covered over fifty years, Price presented his final runway show in London recently in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Sculpted Silhouettes: A hallmark of his work.
- Theatrical Flair: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Gender-Fluid Fashion: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
The fashion world laments the passing to a genuine innovator whose influence on style and culture remains indelibly etched.