The Fashion Icon Antony Price, Renowned for Styling Bowie and Duran Duran, Has Died Aged 80.
Antony Price, the visionary UK-based designer responsible for a series of unforgettable images associated with artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has died at 80 years old.
His reputation was built on his sculptured silhouettes and dramatic aesthetics, such as the pastel suits that became famous from rock band Duran Duran's classic music video for "the song Rio".
"They honored him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' Duran Duran shared a message on social media."
His passing follows just weeks after he presented his latest collection in London, marking his return to the runway after over three decades. The performer Lily Allen walked in a dress inspired by the iconic black velvet "so-called 'revenge dress'" made famous by Diana, Princess of Wales.
An Enduring Influence
Hailing from Yorkshire, where he was born in 1945, Price moved to London in the early 1960s to enroll at the esteemed Royal College of Art.
A year after graduating, he started his work in clothing for men at Stirling Copper and was behind the body-hugging, buttoned trousers that The Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger sported 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 featured as its opener creations worn by the famed model Jerry Hall, who later wore the bridal gown Price designed for her for her marriage to Sir Mick Jagger.
Collaborations with Icons
A frequent collaborator of musical chameleon David Bowie, Price was the mind behind the memorable jacket the singer wore for his "the song As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to merge tailoring for all genders along with his masterful technique in designing sculptural silhouettes established him as a "true original," in the words of the British Fashion Council.
In the 1990s, he began working on pieces for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, including several ensembles for her American tour following her marriage.
With a vocation that covered over fifty years, Price staged what would be his last show in London just last month in partnership with the design house 16Arlington.
- Architectural Forms: A hallmark of his work.
- Theatrical Flair: Influencing music videos and stagewear.
- Genre-Blending Design: Blurring lines between clothing for men and women.
- Working with Stars and Royalty: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
Design circles says farewell to a authentic original whose impact on style and culture remains profoundly felt.
