Antony Price, Renowned for Creating Looks for Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the groundbreaking British fashion designer responsible for a series of unforgettable images worn by David Bowie, Roxy Music, and Queen Camilla, has died at 80 years old.
His reputation was built on his sculptured silhouettes and dramatic aesthetics, such as the light-hued ensembles that appeared in rock band Duran Duran's landmark music video for "Rio".
"Remembering him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the group posted a remembrance online."
His passing follows shortly after he presented his latest collection in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Artist Lily Allen walked in a dress that paid homage to the iconic black velvet "dress" historically worn by Diana, Princess of Wales.
A Pioneering Career
A native of Yorkshire, born in 1945, Price relocated to London during the sixties to enroll at the renowned Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he began designing clothing for men at the company Stirling Copper and was behind the form-fitting, button-fly pants that Sir Mick Jagger sported during the iconic group's Gimme Shelter tour in the late sixties.
He launched his own brand in 1979 and staged his first fashion show a year later. The show featured as its opener creations worn by model Jerry Hall, who also wore the wedding dress Price created for her for her marriage to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A frequent collaborator of David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the memorable jacket the singer 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 sculptural silhouettes cemented his status as a "one-of-a-kind talent," according to the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he commenced designing pieces for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, including various looks for her US tour following her marriage.
Following a profession lasting more than five decades, Price staged what would be his last show in London last month in partnership with the design house 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: A hallmark of his work.
- Theatrical Flair: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Gender-Fluid Fashion: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: Including music legends and the future Queen Consort.
The industry mourns the loss to a true visionary whose impact on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.
