Antony Price, the British fashion designer whose work helped define some of music’s most unforgettable visual eras, has died at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by Duran Duran co-founder Nick Rhodes, who shared the news publicly on Wednesday. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Rhodes described Price as both a visionary and a dear friend, crediting him as one of the most influential creative forces behind the band’s image. He praised Price’s rare ability to fuse classic Hollywood glamour with a modern edge, noting that nobody did glam quite like Antony.
Throughout Duran Duran’s career, Price served as a key creative collaborator. Among his most recognizable contributions were the pastel silk suits worn in the band’s iconic Rio music video, a look that remains synonymous with 1980s pop sophistication.
“His distinctive creations were unique and striking,” Rhodes said. “While he rarely received the recognition he deserved from the fashion media, his clients and fellow designers all knew Antony was a genius, truly a cut above the rest.” Rhodes added that Price’s final fashion show, presented just weeks ago, was as relevant and spectacular as the first one he ever attended.
Born in Keighley in Yorkshire, Price studied at the Bradford School of Art before relocating to London to attend the Royal College of Art. His career took off in the late 1960s at the London label Stirling Cooper, where his sharply tailored trousers and bold silhouettes quickly caught the attention of the music world. Mick Jagger famously wore Price’s designs during the Rolling Stones’ 1969 Gimme Shelter tour.
In the 1970s, Price became closely associated with Roxy Music, styling the band and the glamorous models known as the Roxy girls who appeared on their album covers. His work during this period helped define the visual language of art rock and elevated fashion as a central element of musical identity.
By the 1980s, Price’s influence expanded to a broader pop audience. He crafted the sleek, broad-shouldered suits worn by David Bowie, further cementing his role as a designer who understood performance, persona, and presence.
Beyond music, Price also became a favored designer of Queen Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall. His custom gowns and structured eveningwear earned him the nickname “the frock surgeon,” a nod to his precise tailoring, sculptural cuts, and mastery of corsetry.
Just last month, Price made a celebrated return to the runway in London through a collaboration with contemporary label 16Arlington. The 16-look eveningwear collection revisited his signature exaggerated silhouettes and high-glam drama. The show also marked singer Lily Allen’s runway debut, as she closed the presentation in a striking black velvet dress.
Antony Price leaves behind a legacy that bridged fashion, music, and performance, proving that style is not just worn but lived and remembered.
