British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Designing for Iconic Acts Like Bowie and Duran Duran, Has Died Aged 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the groundbreaking style architect behind some of the most iconic looks associated with 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 dramatic aesthetics, such as the pastel suits that appeared in rock band Duran Duran's seminal music video for "Rio".
"They honored him as 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 unveiled his most recent collection in London, his first in more than 30 years. Artist Lily Allen modelled a dress evoking the iconic black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" made famous by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price moved to London at the start of the 1960s to attend the prestigious 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 iconic group's Gimme Shelter tour in 1969.
He founded his own label in 1979 and staged his first fashion show a year later. The show featured as its opener outfits on model Jerry Hall, who later wore the bridal gown Price specifically designed for her nuptials with Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A key creative partner of musical chameleon David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the iconic jacket the star wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His signature ability to blend tailoring for all genders along with his masterful technique in crafting sculptural silhouettes established him as a "true original," in the words of the UK's fashion authority.
In the 1990s, he began working on ensembles for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, such as various looks for her American tour following her marriage.
With a vocation that covered half a century, Price staged what would be his last show in London recently in partnership with the design house 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: The core of his aesthetic.
- Theatrical Flair: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Genre-Blending Design: Creating a unique, androgynous style.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: Including music legends and the future Queen Consort.
The industry mourns the loss to a authentic original whose impact on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.
