Next time you button up a shirt, take a closer look—chances are, it fastens differently depending on whether it’s designed for men or women. This quirky fashion detail has puzzled many, but historians say it all comes down to history, class, and even warfare.
Men’s shirts usually have buttons on the right, while women’s are on the left. One theory points to the days when wealthy women had maids dress them. Since most people are right-handed, left-side buttons made it easier for servants to do up their clothing. Men, who dressed themselves, naturally had buttons positioned for their dominant hand.
Another explanation involves practicality in battle. Men needed quick access to weapons, so right-side buttons allowed them to unbutton coats swiftly while keeping a sword or pistol ready. Women’s fashion, free from such concerns, stuck with the left-side design.
Though modern fashion is moving toward gender neutrality, this small difference persists—a quiet nod to traditions that once dictated everything from who dressed you to how you fought.
