Antony Price, Renowned for Designing for Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the influential style architect behind a series of unforgettable images favored by artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has died at the age of 80.
His reputation was built on his defined forms and theatrical styles, such as the soft-colored suits that featured in 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."
This news arrives shortly after he unveiled his newest line in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Artist Lily Allen modelled a dress inspired by the iconic black velvet "revenge dress" made famous by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price headed for London at the start of the 1960s to enroll at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he commenced his career designing clothing for men at the label Stirling Copper and was behind the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger wore during the band's Gimme Shelter tour in the late sixties.
He founded his own label in 1979 and presented his inaugural collection a year later. The show featured as its opener outfits on model Jerry Hall, who was also seen in the marriage dress Price created for her for her marriage to Sir Mick Jagger.
Collaborations with Icons
A key creative partner of David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the iconic jacket the singer wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to fuse tailoring for all genders along with his expert craftsmanship in designing form-fitting garments made him a "one-of-a-kind talent," in the words of the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he commenced designing outfits for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, such as several ensembles for her US tour following her marriage.
After a career spanning half a century, Price presented his final runway show in London just last month in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: The core of his aesthetic.
- Theatrical Flair: Defining an era of music fashion.
- Boundary-Pushing Tailoring: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
Design circles mourns the loss to a true visionary whose influence on style and culture remains indelibly etched.
