Why I Will Always Choose the Classics

By Zein Ahmed

I have never been drawn to trends.
Even as a child, I didn’t understand them.
What I understood—instinctively—was something else entirely.
I grew up in a home where clothing was not disposable.
It was chosen. Invested in. Kept.
Being the youngest of five sisters, I had a front-row seat to style that didn’t change every season.
My mother and my sisters had a very clear aesthetic.
Simple. Timeless. Intentional.

The Beauty of What Lasts

I remember chaar kali kurtas—with or without pockets—paired with classic shalwaars.
Nothing excessive.
Nothing loud.
Just… right.
These were not outfits worn once and forgotten.
They were worn for years.
Then passed down.
And even as hand-me-downs, they looked beautiful.
The quality held.
The fabric softened.
The garment lived on.

A Wardrobe That Made Sense

Even outside of traditional wear, I was drawn to the same idea.
Blue jeans.
White cotton or linen shirts.
That was enough.
One, maybe two pairs of jeans.
Two or three white shirts.
And I could live in them for years.
Accessories changed the look.
Not the foundation.
There was no constant need to buy more.
No pressure to keep up.

Why I Never Understood Trends

To be honest—I always felt trends were for those who didn’t know who they were.
So they followed.
They let someone else decide:
•    What to wear 
•    What to like 
•    Who to be 
Because trends are instructions. And I never wanted to be instructed on something as personal as identity.

What I’ve Observed Over Time

The most powerful, interesting, and self-assured women I know—all have one thing in common.
They have their own style.
And it doesn’t change every year.
They refine it.
They live in it.
They own it.
They don’t follow fashion.
They define it.

The Economics of Classics

There is also something very practical here.
When you invest in classics:
•    You buy less 
•    You wear more 
•    You waste nothing 
Over time, you spend far less than someone constantly chasing trends.
And yet—today, we are spending more than ever,
buying more than ever, and somehow… owning less that actually matters.

A Privilege We Don’t Value Enough

In Pakistan, we still have something incredibly rare.
Access to handmade textiles.
Block prints.
Natural dyes.
Clothing made by hand, often custom-fitted.
Do we realize what a luxury this is?
In the West:
•    A handmade dress can cost $1200 
•    A shirt can easily be $500 
And yet here—we have access to this at a fraction of the cost.

And Still, We Choose Otherwise

This is what I don’t understand.
Why do we choose:
•    Cheap, mass-produced clothing 
•    Toxic fabrics 
•    Factory-made garments produced in thousands 
Over something:
•    Handmade 
•    Thoughtful 
•    Made by people we know 
It’s like having access to homemade biryani made with care—and choosing a fast food meal instead.

What Are We Really Choosing?

Because this is not just about clothes.
It is about:
•    What we value 
•    What we support 
•    What we preserve 
When we choose classics, we choose:
•    Longevity over waste 
•    Identity over imitation 
•    Craft over convenience 

In the End

I will always choose the classics.
Because they are not just about style.
They are about:
Knowing who you are.
Standing by it.
And not needing the world to tell you otherwise.