British Designer Antony Price, Celebrated for Designing for David Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Fashion legend Antony Price, the visionary style architect who crafted some of the most iconic looks 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 soft-colored suits that became famous from rock band Duran Duran's seminal music video for "Rio".
"In a tribute, they called him a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the band released a statement on social media."
His passing follows just weeks after he debuted his most recent collection in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. Singer Lily Allen modelled a dress inspired by the iconic black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" made famous by Diana, Princess of Wales.
An Enduring Influence
Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price headed for London at the start of the 1960s to study at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
Shortly after his graduation, he started his work in men's fashion at the company Stirling Copper and was the creator of the form-fitting, button-fly pants that Sir Mick Jagger wore during The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" tour in 1969.
He founded his own label in 1979 and staged his first fashion show a year later. The show opened with looks from model Jerry Hall, who also wore the wedding dress Price designed for her for her marriage to Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A long-time collaborator of David Bowie, Price created the iconic jacket the star wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His characteristic talent to merge menswear and womenswear along with his technical proficiency in crafting form-fitting garments established him as a "one-of-a-kind talent," according to the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he started creating outfits for Camilla, now Queen Consort, such as several ensembles for her American tour after assuming the title.
With a vocation that covered more than five decades, Price staged what would be his last show in London recently in conjunction with the design house 16Arlington.
- Defined Shapes: A hallmark of his work.
- Theatrical Flair: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Boundary-Pushing Tailoring: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
The fashion world says farewell to a genuine innovator whose influence on the visual landscape of music remains deeply ingrained.