Alexa Chung, British television presenter and model. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: Supplied THERE was a distinctive art theme running through the recent spring-summer shows. People have questioned whether fashion is art probably for as long as people have been putting things in galleries. In my humble opinion, at its best fashion definitely ascends into this more hallowed territory. Look at the proliferation of fashion exhibitions in recent years to see how people have come around to this way of thinking. In Paris, the Musee Galliera recently reopened with an exhibition of work by Azzedine Alaia, master of the form-hugging micro-knit dress; closer to home, Modern Love opens at Victoria's Bendigo Art Gallery in a fortnight. The exhibition showcases work from Vivienne Westwood's post-punk days through to a recent dress from Melbourne's Toni Maticevski, via Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and John Galliano. But back to the catwalk outings this season, where designers channelled their inner gallerists, artists and benefactors. Prada collaborated with mural artists to create pop-meets-political appeal: images of women's faces adorned tunic dresses, coats and skirts in finishes from flat to furry. Phoebe Philo, arbiter of all things minimalist, brought out her inner bohemian with prints that looked like the result of a month locked in a Parisian garret during a prolific abstract-geometric phase. Karl Lagerfeld took the artist to the gallery, in a white-walled space filled with Chanel-inspired images and objets. Well, he has always had a strong commercial bent amid his creativity. With prints derived from artists' colour charts and make-up that looked as if artist Peter Phillips had gone back to art school, the effect was intoxicating. But designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac had the final word on this mini trend. Elements of his collection seemed inspired by Picasso, Brancusi, Yves Klein and even Jean Cocteau, with figurative and script flourishes lifting the simple to the sublime. And the good thing about this trend? When you're not wearing these pieces they look just as good hanging on your wall. Who said fashion needs to be relegated to the wardrobe? The thoughts of Chung THERE was much interest in our offices this week with the arrival of a new book - titled, perhaps appropriately, It - by Brit it girl, model and VJ Alexa Chung. Although, given Chung's sense of cool, it probably doesn't refer to her it girl status but, I'm guessing, is her trying not to give It (the book) too much importance. Part memoir, part photo and inspiration album and much life and style advice for those young things who hold her in complete reverence, it begins with her childhood love of horses and finishes with a "F . . k you" written in the sand (followed by a similar "The End"). Irreverence is clearly part of her charm repertoire. I must say I do agree with her on some things, such as Charlotte Rampling having "quite possibly the best face of all time" and that modern music "bores my brains out" (citing Rihanna et al). Our favourite entry was this: "Boys say they don't mind how you get your hair done. But then they leave you for someone with really great standard girl hair and the next thing you know you're alone with a masculine crop crying into your granola. After some mirthful outbursts, we had to take a moment to remind ourselves that this is a book for the under-25s (and possibly girls a lot younger) who think Chung is the Coolest Girl on the Planet. And, as another colleague pointed out, better they take advice from Chung than, say, Rihanna. Penguin, $29.99.