Meet the Muses Behind the Spring 2016 Collections

By Steffi Lee
Updated Oct 07, 2015 @ 3:00 pm
Credit: Daniele Oberrauchd/Imaxtree (3)

For an industry that heavily emphasizes novelty and "the next big thing", fashion is also surprisingly nostalgic. Proof of this? Look no further than the spring/summer 2016 collections. Many designers were inspired by past decades—even centuries—and the iconic women who defined that time period. We highlighted our favorite muses of the season, below, along with how their personal styles were interpreted for the runway.

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Annemarie Schwarzenbach

Credit: Atelier Binder/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Who: A Swiss writer and photographer from the early 1900s with a distinctive androgynous style.

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Inspired by Annemarie Schwarzenbach 

Credit: Pietro D'Aprano/Getty Images, Catwalking/Getty Images (2)

Runway looks from Blumarine 

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Emilie Flöge 

Credit: Getty Images/Universal Images Group

Who: An Austrian businesswoman in the late 1800s and early 1900s, who was most famous for her romantic relationship with painter Gustav Klimt.

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Inspired by Emilie Flöge 

Credit: Fernando Leon/Getty Images (3)

Runway looks from Delpozo

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Nina Simone 

Credit: Jack Robinson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Who: An iconic American singer and civil rights activist.

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Inspired by Nina Simone 

Credit: Catwalking/Getty Images (3)

Runway looks from Derek Lam 

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Ava Gardner 

Credit: Gordon Rynders/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Who: An American actress who defines Old Hollywood glamour.

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Inspired by Ava Gardner 

Credit: Catwalking/Getty Images, Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images, Edward James/WireImage

Runway looks from Oscar de la Renta 

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Gala Dalí

Credit: Jean-Claude Deutsch/Georges Melet/Paris Match via Getty Images

Who: The wife and muse to Salvador Dalí who had a colorful and eclectic wardrobe. 

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Inspired by Gala Dalí

Credit: Daniele Oberrauchd/Imaxtree (3)

Runway looks from Rochas 

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Romy Schneider 

Credit: PICOT/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Who: The legendary French and German actress who epitomized cool-girl chic.

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Inspired by Romy Schneider 

Credit: Daniele Oberrauchd/Imaxtree (3)

Runway looks from Nina Ricci 

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By Steffi Lee