Why Are Buttons Placed Differently On Men And Women's Shirts? Here's The Shocking Reason

Men and women's wardrobes are vastly different, which is why we often avoid wearing each other's clothes. Borrowing your man's recent purchase for brunch with the girls is usually not an option due to variations in tailoring and style; but, if you can switch your clothes with your other half, go for it.

If you're really struggling, you could consider raiding your dad's closet.

However, if you are a woman who has had to grab the nearest object to defend your modesty previously, you may have slid on a man's shirt once or twice in your life.

After measuring the length of the sleeves and detecting the traces of aftershave on the neck, you may have noticed that the buttons are on the opposite side of your typical shirt.

Why are buttons places differently on men and women's shirt?

Women's buttons are usually placed on the left side | Image: Pexels

But who came up with the strange idea of opposing genders tying their shirts on the opposite side? So buckle up, because you are about to find out.

The truth is, there is no legally confirmed and rubber-stamped explanation why the buttons are on the right side for men and the left side for women. However, as is customary, there are numerous theories, the most of which are historical in origin.

Back in the day, most fellas ran around with a lot of weapons - swords, crossbows, daggers, axes, you name it - and a lot of them hid them in their clothing.

When it came to battle, these were normally grasped in the right hand while a shield was held in the left, so having buttons on the same side as their armament was presumably deemed advantageous.

What do the experts have to say?

According to Chloe Chapin, a fashion historian and Harvard University PhD candidate in American studies, 'many components of men's design may be traced back to the military'.

Men used to carry weapons in right hands | Image: Pexels

Paul Keers, author of A Gentleman's Wardrobe, elaborated on the hypothesis, describing how the positioning of the fasteners could affect a man in a fight to the death.

He told The Guardian that a gentleman's sword was usually worn on the left side, allowing it to be drawn with the right hand.

"If a jacket buttoned right over left, the handle of the sword would be likely to catch in the jacket opening when drawn, so any serious swordsman would demand a tunic which buttoned left over right."

However, while this may explain why men's buttons are on the right, it does not explain why women's buttons are on the opposite side, especially when the majority of individuals are right-handed. Fortunately, the founder of Elizabeth & Clarke, a women's blouse brand, believes she knows why.

How are women's shirt different?

Melanie M. Moore told Today that wealthy women back then would not dress themselves, but rather had their lady's maid do it. "Since most people were right-handed, this made it easier for someone standing across from you to button your dress."

women back then would not dress themselves, but rather had their lady's maid do it | Image: Pinterest

Other probable explanations include, according to Smithsonian Magazine, the fact that some people believe many mothers breastfeed while holding their baby in their left arm, or that Napoleon's mass-produced apparel that was purposefully difficult for women to put on'.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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