Courtesy Versace
Donatella Versace offered us a sneak peek at her Autumn-Winter 2016 collection, which streams live on February 26, 2016 on versace.com.
Courtesy MSGM
MSGM designer Massimo Giorgetti's mood board is a mix of film, art and 90s grunge references.
Courtesy Blumarine
"Eccentric, feminine and elegant: the inspiring woman of the Blumarine Autumn-Winter 2016 collection is the sum of these three key words." - Anna Molinari
Courtesy Thomaston Place Auction Galleries/Photographer Chris Lawrence
"Rich and graphic. The new winter collection of Paula Cademartori is the right mix between ornamental designs, colorful embroidery, folk-style and artistic references." - Paula Cademartori
Courtesy Holly Fulton
"AW16 is inspired by the artist David Inshaw, and draws from his world of 70s, otherworldly references, and his love of women. The color palette comes from his lush, rich shades and the deep tactile tones of his paintings.

Cutting is inspired by sportswear from the same era with referencing utilitarian detailing and cuts through the outerwear and finishing on garments. Fabrications are textured; velvets and jacquard combine to reference the graphic signature of the brand in a new way and embroidery embraces pieces from top to toe.
Accessories keep the same family of fabrications and motifs to create a tight collection reflecting our ethos and aesthetic." - Holly Fulton
Courtesy Isa Arfen
"The mood of the collection is somewhere between Blitz Kids theatrics and late Seventies European aristocratic glamor, with a touch of Pierrot sadness. It's about clothes as escapism and living for today... or rather tonight." - Serafina Sama, designer
Courtesy Peter Jensen
"This collection is about art, I think, well, it has some kind of element of that. The women, who is the muse this season, is all about art. Art, money, and sex!" - Peter Jensen
Courtesy Fyodar Golan
"Like a child who is omnipotent, I want to be both secretive and an exhibitionist, in the same person." - Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman
Courtesy Natasha Zinko
"My Autumn-Winter 2016 collection is inspired by the work of some of my favorite artists. I love the cubism in Picasso's work, as well as the constructivism of Russian artist Goncharova, especially his images of women in the 80s. The shapes, colorways, and textures have been translated into my own ready-to-wear collection." - Natasha Zinko
Courtesy Calvin Klein
"Urban jungle." - Francisco Costa, Women's Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection
Courtesy Robert Polidori
"Inspirations for the forthcoming Fall 2016 collection came from thinking about the juxtaposition of something modern against something highly decorative.

Drawing parallels from the famous 1970s Battle of Versailles fashion show, in which French designers' highly decorative presentations were pitted against the Americans' (including Oscar de la Renta) more minimal and modern ones, or more recently, the Jeff Koons show at Versailles, whose very modern, sleek, sculptural pieces were exhibited against the backdrop of the château, ornate details are juxtaposed with clean silhouettes.

References to classical and 18th c. motifs such as Toile de Jouy are reworked by putting them through a technical pixelated process, giving them a modern feeling." - Peter Copping, Creative Director

(Photo courtesy Robert Polidori, from Chronophagia Selected works 1984-2009.)
Courtesy Diane von Furstenberg
"Inspired by movement: the grace of dancing and the precision of fencing." - Diane von Furstenberg
Courtesy Rober Polidori
"Indoors meets outdoors." - Tanya Taylor
Courtesy J. Mendel
"Tamara de Lempicka" (Polish Art Deco artist of the early 20th Century, beloved by Madonna) - Gilles Mendel, Creative Director
Courtesy Brooks Brothers
"Celebrating Femininity & American Classics" - Zac Posen, Creative Director
CNN  — 

Before the clothes are made, the runway sets constructed, and the coveted invitations sent, there is the mood board.

Whether it’s a binder of photos and magazine cut-outs, fabric swatches tacked to a wall, or a stack of dog-eared books, these references start the creative ball rolling for a designer, acting as a catalyst for a new collection.

In the lead-up to the Autumn-Winter 2016 show season, we asked designers in New York, London, Milan and Paris to share a taste of their inspiration. Check back throughout the month for previews of what’s to come.