On the agenda: Afghanistan; The Cardboard Book Project; John Alfredo Harris; London Fashion Week; Malaysia Night in London's Trafalgar Square; Party for Pakistan

The real Afghanistan, furniture in Savile Row, plus Facejacker on the charidee trail

Photography

The UK has been at war in Afghanistan for eight years – but how much do we really know about the country? Three new exhibitions aim to reveal a whole lot more. Wolverhampton Art Gallery's Afghanistan (running to 20 November) will explore the region's people, landscape and politics; the Impression Gallery in Bradford will look at non-combatants as well as non-official imagery such as soldiers' graffiti in Bringing the War Home (running to 14 November); while the National Army Museum's The Road to Kabul (running to spring 2011) offers an insight into the legacies of our conflicts in Afghanistan between 1839 and 1919. wolverhamptonart. org.uk, impressions-gallery.com, national-army-museum.ac.uk

Adam Jacques

Books

Even as modern book publishing becomes ever more electronic and disposable, one author is bucking the trend with her short stories, The Cardboard Book Project. Jemma Foster's 12 stories are hand-painted and bound in recycled cardboard bought from Buenos Aires' cartoneros, or cardboard pickers. For each book sold here, one is donated to the Abuelas Cuentacuentos (Reading Grandmothers) project, which invites elderly volunteers to read to children in the poorest parts of Argentina. To buy stories: thecard boardbook project.com

Katy Guest

Design

It seems only fitting that Savile Row is hosting an exhibition by a furniture maker with a bespoke sensibility. John Alfredo Harris spends months honing English hardwood into tactile shapes, which show off the beauty of the wood and the level of workmanship in their smooth-as-silk finish. Now tailor Ozwald Boateng is displaying the pieces in his flagship store, but there's a warning: studying the sharp suits and elegant furniture results in serious lifestyle envy. To 3 October, jaharris.co.uk

Fashion

London Fashion Week hosts its dedicated menswear day on Wednesday, so all eyes will be on the guys. Luckily, top male model David Gandy has launched his very own styling app for the iPhone and iPad, so let this most manly man of men guide you, from a complete wardrobe breakdown of classic pieces to how to dress for your body shape – whether that be athletic, passable or even a bit beery. £3.99, available through the iTunes store

Harriet Walker

Food

Malaysian cuisine might not have the same following over here as Indian (70 eateries versus 10,000-odd), but Friday's Malaysia Night in London's Trafalgar Square could change that. At a night-hawker market, 20 stalls will be offering food from London restaurants including the cheap-and-cheerful Puji Puji (stacks of satay chicken) to the fine-dining of Awana (try the beef rendang). A tea lounge and cocktail bar will ensure the food slips down nicely. malaysiakitchen.co.uk

AJ

Comedy

The artists are working for free, proceeds are going to the DEC's flood-relief work in Pakistan and there'll be DJs and a live set from rapper-turned-crooner Plan B. But that's not why we're off to the O2 Academy in Islington on 29 September. No, we'll be there because the Party for Pakistan also sees the live debut of Kayvan Novak, better known as Channel 4's Facejacker, who reminds us to "bring your bank account and sort code details to help for the floods". o2academyislington.co.uk

Simmy Richman