The placement of buttons on shirts is a subtle but distinct difference between men's and women's fashion. On men's shirts, the buttons are placed on the right, while on women's shirts they are placed on the left. This curious detail has its origins in historical traditions and practical reasons from past eras.
This difference is a legacy of an ancient tradition that has persisted into the modern era without much thought. The exact origin of this practice is unclear, although several theories try to explain it.
One popular theory points to the Renaissance and Victorian eras, when women's clothing was intricate and often required assistance to put on. Wealthy women, in particular, had maids to help them dress, and the placement of buttons on the left side made it easier for right-handed maids to fasten them. Men's clothing, designed to be worn alone, had buttons on the right side for right-handed wearers, explains Smithsonian Mag.
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As mass-produced clothing became the norm, this placement of buttons became standardized. Despite changes in the way people dress today, the tradition has remained unchallenged, largely because few people notice or complain about it.
Other theories offer different perspectives. Some suggest that the design was influenced by the fact that women rode sideways, with their right side facing forward, making the buttons on the left practical to prevent the breeze getting into their clothes. Another theory posits that the design was for mothers, who held their babies with their left arm, leaving their right hand free to handle the buttons.
In addition, some historians argue that the placement of the buttons was a symbolic gesture to distinguish men from women, highlighting male superiority. This view is in line with the notion that many social norms and fashions were historically designed to reinforce gender roles.
The wearing of buttons by men, on the other hand, is linked to war. Historical men's clothing often needed to be functional for battle. Armor and military coats were designed to overlap from left to right to prevent enemy weapons from passing through the openings. This design was transferred to civilian men's clothing, ensuring that the buttons on the right side facilitated efficient movement, especially for drawing the sword with the right hand.
Some theories are more extravagant. For example, one anecdote attributes the difference to Napoleon, who, annoyed that women made fun of his portrait pose with his hands in his vests, supposedly decreed that women's buttons should be placed on the opposite side to those of men.
Despite various theories, the true origin of the difference between the sides of the buttons remains a mystery.
