The Fashion Icon Antony Price, Celebrated for Styling David Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
The British designer Antony Price, the influential UK-based designer responsible for many legendary styles favored by David Bowie, Roxy Music, and Queen Camilla, has sadly died at 80 years old.
He was celebrated for his architectural shapes and theatrical styles, most notably the pastel suits that became famous from the pop-rock group Duran Duran's landmark music video for "Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message online."
His passing follows shortly after he debuted his latest collection in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. The performer Lily Allen walked in a dress evoking the iconic black velvet "revenge dress" made famous by the late Princess Diana.
A Lasting Legacy
A native of Yorkshire, born in 1945, Price moved to London in the early 1960s to enroll at the prestigious Royal College of Art.
Shortly after his graduation, he started his work in clothing for men at Stirling Copper and was the creator of 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 opened with creations worn by the famed model Jerry Hall, who was also seen in the marriage dress Price created for her for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Working with Legends
A key creative partner of David Bowie, Price designed the distinctive jacket the artist wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to merge elements of men's and women's fashion along with his expert craftsmanship in shaping body-hugging looks cemented his status as a "genuine original," according to the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he commenced designing pieces for Camilla, now Queen Consort, such as a number of outfits for her tour of the United States after becoming Duchess.
Following a profession lasting over fifty years, Price held his ultimate fashion presentation in London recently in partnership with the label 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: Central to his design philosophy.
- Theatrical Flair: Influencing music videos and stagewear.
- Genre-Blending Design: Creating a unique, androgynous style.
- Clients from Stage to Palace: Spanning iconic musicians and members of the royal family.
The industry laments the passing to a authentic original whose impact on style and culture remains deeply ingrained.
