Why are buttons on men’s and women’s shirts always on opposite sides?
The placement of buttons on men’s shirts on the right and on women’s shirts on the left originates from social and cultural habits that have existed for centuries. Understanding the reasons behind this arrangement gives us insight into the context of fashion in the past and explains the continuation of this tradition in modern fashion.
When buttons were invented in the 13th century, they were very expensive, and only upper-class women had the opportunity to wear clothes with buttons. The placement of buttons on the right for men and on the left for women was not only related to the practicality of design but also reflected the gender and class distinctions in society.
In the 13th century, common women used fabric ties or wooden clasps to fasten their clothes, while middle and upper-class women often wore elaborate outfits fastened with expensive buttons made of gold, silver, pearls, gemstones, and ivory — a trend that laid the foundation for the future distinction between haute couture and everyday fashion.
At that time, wealthy women wore clothes with buttons, but they didn’t dress themselves; their maids did it for them. Since most people were right-handed, the buttons had to be on the left to make it easier for the person standing opposite to fasten them. The placement of buttons on the left for women’s clothing was a subtle indication that the family was wealthy, a characteristic of the upper class.
