British Designer Antony Price, Famed for Styling Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the visionary British fashion designer behind a series of unforgettable images favored by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has died at the age of 80.
His reputation was built on his architectural shapes and performative fashion, such as the light-hued ensembles that became famous from the pop-rock group Duran Duran's landmark music video for "the song Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the band released a statement on social media."
His passing follows just weeks after he presented his newest line in London, his first in more than 30 years. Artist Lily Allen walked in a dress inspired by the iconic black velvet "revenge dress" made famous by Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price headed for London in the early 1960s to study at the prestigious Royal College of Art.
Upon completing his studies, he started his work in menswear at Stirling Copper and was the creator of the body-hugging, buttoned trousers that The Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger wore during the iconic group's "Gimme Shelter" tour in the late sixties.
He established his eponymous line in 1979 and staged his first fashion show a year later. The show opened with creations worn by model Jerry Hall, who also wore the marriage dress Price designed for her for her nuptials with Sir Mick Jagger.
Collaborations with Icons
A long-time collaborator of the late David Bowie, Price designed the memorable jacket the singer wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to merge tailoring for all genders along with his technical proficiency in designing sculptural silhouettes made him a "one-of-a-kind talent," in the words of the British Fashion Council.
During the nineties, he commenced designing outfits for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, such as various looks for her tour of the United States following her marriage.
Following a profession lasting half a century, Price held his ultimate fashion presentation in London last month in conjunction with the fashion brand 16Arlington.
- Sculpted Silhouettes: The core of his aesthetic.
- Theatrical Flair: Influencing music videos and stagewear.
- Genre-Blending Design: Merging menswear with womenswear.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
The fashion world laments the passing to a true visionary whose impact on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.
