Antony Price, the influential British designer and image maker, has died aged 80. Renowned for blending music, theatre and fashion, he helped define the visual identity of Roxy Music in the 1970s and later shaped Duran Duran’s sleek aesthetic. In more recent years, he became a trusted designer for Queen Camilla, reinforcing his lasting influence across decades of British style.
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Often described as the most important designer you had never heard of, Price staged just six fashion shows during a career spanning more than half a century. Last month, he returned to the London catwalk for the first time in over 30 years, collaborating with 16Arlington in a show that drew attention when Lily Allen modelled a black velvet “revenge dress”. His World’s End shop in the 1970s stood in glamorous contrast to the punk scene further along the King’s Road.
Born in Keighley, Yorkshire, Price moved to London to study at the Royal College of Art before cutting his teeth in menswear. He went on to style album covers and stage looks for Roxy Music, David Bowie and Duran Duran, becoming known for sharp tailoring and bold, theatrical glamour. His work crossed effortlessly between menswear and womenswear, dressing figures such as Paula Yates, Kylie Minogue and Jerry Hall, and influencing how musicians became fashion icons.
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In later years, Price earned the nickname “the frock surgeon” for his technical mastery of corsetry and structure, creating made-to-order pieces, including designs for Camilla during her time as Duchess of Cornwall. Tributes have poured in from across the fashion world, with milliner Philip Treacy calling him a “true visionary” and the British Fashion Council praising him as a champion of individuality and young talent, whose creative legacy will endure.
