British Designer Antony Price, Renowned for Styling Bowie and Duran Duran, Passes Away at Age 80.
Antony Price, the visionary UK-based designer behind a series of unforgettable images worn by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has passed away at 80 years old.
His reputation was built on his defined forms and performative fashion, including the soft-colored suits that became famous from rock band Duran Duran's classic music video for "Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the band released a statement on social media."
Price's death comes just weeks after he presented his most recent collection in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Singer Lily Allen walked in a dress that paid homage to the notorious black velvet "revenge dress" historically worn by Princess Diana.
An Enduring Influence
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price headed for London in the early 1960s to enroll at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he started his work in clothing for men at the company Stirling Copper and was responsible for the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger sported during the band'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 looks from the famed model Jerry Hall, who later wore the marriage dress Price specifically designed for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A key creative partner of musical chameleon David Bowie, Price designed the iconic jacket the artist wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His signature ability to blend menswear and womenswear along with his masterful technique in shaping form-fitting garments cemented his status as a "genuine original," according to the UK's fashion authority.
In the 1990s, he commenced designing ensembles for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, which included various looks for her American tour following her marriage.
After a career spanning more than five decades, Price held his ultimate fashion presentation in London last month in conjunction with the design house 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: Central to his design philosophy.
- Theatrical Flair: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Boundary-Pushing Tailoring: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: Including music legends and the future Queen Consort.
The industry laments the passing to a authentic original whose influence on fashion and music remains indelibly etched.
