British Fashion Icon Anthony Price Dies at 80, Leaving a Lasting Legacy in Music and Style

Key Points

• Celebrated British designer Anthony Price has died at age 80.
• Known for sculptural silhouettes and bold pastel tailoring, Price shaped the visual identity of stars like David Bowie, Roxy Music, and Queen Camilla.
• His death comes weeks after unveiling his first runway collection in 30 years.
• Price’s work appeared in iconic music videos, including Duran Duran’s “Rio.”
• The British Fashion Council hailed him as a “true original” whose influence defined an era.

A Visionary Designer Who Transformed Rock and Fashion

Anthony Price, the trailblazing British fashion designer whose dramatic, body‑contouring creations became synonymous with rock‑and‑roll glamour, has died at the age of 80. His work, instantly recognizable for its sculpted silhouettes and daring pastel suits, helped define the visual language of some of the world’s most influential performers.

Price’s designs were immortalized in music history, most famously in Duran Duran’s “Rio” video, where his bold aesthetic took center stage. The band honored him on social media, calling him a “visionary” and a “kind, intelligent, and razor‑witted friend.”

A Career Rooted in Art, Reinvention, and Rock Stardom

Born in 1945 in Keighley, West Yorkshire, Price moved to London in the early 1960s to study at the Royal College of Art. After graduating, he began designing menswear for Stirling Cooper, where he created the now‑iconic buttoned trousers worn by Sir Mick Jagger during The Rolling Stones’ 1969 “Gimme Shelter” tour.

In 1979, Price launched his own label. His debut show the following year—featuring Jerry Hall—cemented his reputation as a designer capable of merging sensuality, structure, and theatricality. Hall later wore a Price creation for her wedding to Jagger, underscoring their long‑standing creative partnership.

Price’s collaborations with David Bowie became some of his most celebrated work. He designed the jacket Bowie wore in the 1986 music video for “As the World Falls Down,” further solidifying his influence on pop culture.

The British Fashion Council praised Price as a “true original,” applauding his ability to blend menswear and womenswear elements into sleek, body‑hugging designs that shaped the look of an entire generation.

Royal Commissions and a Triumphant Final Runway Return

Beyond the music world, Price also designed for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the 1990s, creating several ensembles for her U.S. tour after she assumed her royal title.

His final act in fashion came just weeks before his death. After a 30‑year hiatus, Price returned to the runway with a new collection in collaboration with 16Arlington. The show featured Lily Allen in a gown inspired by Princess Diana’s iconic “revenge dress,” marking a poignant bookend to his five‑decade career.

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