The Fashion Icon Antony Price, Celebrated for Designing for David Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Antony Price, the visionary British fashion designer responsible for a series of unforgettable images favored by musical icons like Bowie and members of Roxy Music, as well as Queen Camilla, has died aged 80.
His reputation was built on his architectural shapes and performative fashion, such as the light-hued ensembles that appeared in the iconic band Duran Duran's landmark music video for "the song Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the group posted a remembrance on social media."
This news arrives less than a month after he unveiled his latest collection in London, his first in more than 30 years. Artist Lily Allen showcased a dress evoking the famous black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" made famous by Diana, Princess of Wales.
A Pioneering Career
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price relocated to London in the early 1960s to enroll at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
Shortly after his graduation, he began designing men's fashion at the company Stirling Copper and was the creator of the tight, button-detailed trousers that The Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger sported during the band's Gimme Shelter tour in the late sixties.
He established his eponymous line in 1979 and presented his inaugural collection a year later. The show featured as its opener looks from model Jerry Hall, who was also seen in the bridal gown Price specifically designed for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Collaborations with Icons
A frequent collaborator of the late David Bowie, Price created the memorable jacket the artist wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to fuse elements of men's and women's fashion along with his technical proficiency in shaping form-fitting garments established him as a "genuine original," in the words of the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he started creating pieces for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, including a number of outfits for her American tour after becoming Duchess.
Following a profession lasting half a century, Price held his ultimate fashion presentation in London last month in partnership with the design house 16Arlington.
- Sculpted Silhouettes: Central to his design philosophy.
- Theatrical Flair: Influencing music videos and stagewear.
- Boundary-Pushing Tailoring: Creating a unique, androgynous style.
- A Client List from Rock to Royalty: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
The industry laments the passing to a true visionary whose influence on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.
