On the agenda: Paul Smith; Channel 4; Festival in the Sky; Huggies Club; Emerging Artists Award Exhibition

Fashion

Paul Smith, the ever-smiling face of British fashion, only designs things that he wants, loves and needs. One Christmas, he gave us a choo-choo trainset that folded up into a silver briefcase. For autumn, though, he has drawn on his well-documented love of cycling and teamed up with every biker's favourite outfitters Rapha to produce a selection of limited-edition garments and accessories for the ritzy rider. Unveiled last week, the range won't be on sale until October, but it's worth joining the waiting list for this lilac jersey now. And saving up wouldn't be a bad idea either. £150, Rapha.cc

Harriet Walker

TV

August has long been known as "silly season", when TV commissioners assume their audiences are out of the country or too enfeebled by marauding children on school holidays to concentrate on proper telly. Bucking the trend Channel 4 (yes the channel that brought us Big Brother for a decade) is now in the ninth year of its Coming Up season. The showcase for emerging British writers and directors launches on Thursday with a dramatic double bill. 'Would Like to Meet', the story of a hapless serial dater with a difference is followed by 'Half Term' which acknowledges the pressures of family life. 11pm, Thursday, Channel 4

Rebecca Gonsalves

Food

If you haven't already scheduled every moment of your time in Edinburgh this festival season, why not pull up a seat at the Festival in the Sky's table. A luxury 22-seat table is raised 100 feet above Princes Street Gardens, upon which you will be served the finest of local cuisine including that of guest chefs from the Cook School Scotland. Don't drop your cutlery. To 31 August, festivalinthesky.com

RG

Books

Published in various formats this weekend, 'Half the Sky' by Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is a small book with a big following. With pre-publication plaudits from Khaled Hosseini, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and The Independent's own Johann Hari, the book, published by Virago, is both "an inspiring testament to women's courage" (New York Times) and "A thrilling manifesto for advancing freedom for hundreds of millions of human beings" (Hari). But careful: according to Clooney, "It's impossible to stand by and do nothing" after reading it.

Katy Guest

Comedy

Some people would have you believe that Edinburgh is the only place to have a laugh this month. Two comics set on disproving this theory are Ardal O'Hanlon and Lucy Porter, who will be mining the rich comic seam of new parenthood at the Huggies Little Bundle of Laughs Night on Tuesday. The bill will also feature rising comedy star and new mum Kerry Godliman who has some nappy-related horror stories for the audience. The event, at London's Leicester Square Theatre, is being held in aid of children's charity Tommy's. Tuesday, huggiesclub.co.uk

RG

Art

Cutting-edge online style bible Dazed has teamed up with Converse to bring the splendour of artistic upstarts to London's contemporary art scene. The Emerging Artists Award Exhibition celebrates the work of the five shortlisted competitors, including multi-disciplinarian Jess Flood-Paddock and sculptor Steve Bishop. The winning artists, all of who are under 35 and without gallery representation, will receive £6,000. To 21 August at Stephen Friedman Gallery, dazeddigital.com

RG