In her brilliant book "Beirut fragments" author Jean Said Makdisi wrote about an anecdote whereby she saw her friend, in Hamra, all coiffed. The friend told her about her hairdresser who bought a generator and provided electricity to his shop and women were all getting their hair done. All bang in the middle of war-torn Beirut during the 1982 invasion (where no shred of electricity was present). But Beirut has always been the epitome of contradictions. Airstrikes you say? Yes, waiter please bring me some... And here we are, both PopUp Concepts and Pearl Brands (which among others sell Ralph Lauren) are donating 10% of their sales to displaced people. I mean, a Vetements uber expensive t-shirt at 70% off (only size XS and M available mind you) would be a wonderful addition to your wardrobe, and, it would provide blankets, mattresses, or whatever displaced people need. Let's call it shopping with a conscience. Or retail therapy, because if anything the Lebanese need, it would be therapy indeed.