British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Creating Looks for Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Antony Price, the visionary UK-based designer behind many legendary styles worn by artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has died at 80 years old.
He was celebrated for his architectural shapes and dramatic aesthetics, including the soft-colored suits that became famous from the pop-rock group Duran Duran's seminal music video for "the song 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 shortly after he unveiled his latest collection in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Artist Lily Allen showcased a dress that paid homage to the iconic black velvet "revenge dress" made famous by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price relocated to London in the early 1960s to attend the prestigious Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he commenced his career designing menswear at the company Stirling Copper and was the creator of the body-hugging, buttoned trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger wore during the iconic group's Gimme Shelter tour in the late sixties.
He launched his own brand in 1979 and held his debut runway presentation a year later. The show opened with creations worn by the famed model Jerry Hall, who was also seen in the bridal gown Price specifically designed for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A long-time collaborator of David Bowie, Price designed the distinctive jacket the singer wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to merge elements of men's and women's fashion along with his expert craftsmanship in crafting form-fitting garments made him a "genuine original," according to the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he began working on pieces for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, which included several ensembles for her tour of the United States after assuming the title.
With a vocation that covered over fifty years, Price presented his final runway show in London recently in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: A hallmark of his work.
- Theatrical Flair: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Genre-Blending Design: Creating a unique, androgynous style.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
Design circles mourns the loss to a authentic original whose influence on fashion and music remains profoundly felt.