The Curious Reason Women’s Shirts Button
A Subtle Fashion Detail
Women’s shirts usually button from the left, while men’s button from the right—a tradition with historical roots.
Origins in Status and Assistance
In the 18th and 19th centuries, “affluent women, often assisted by right-handed maids, wore garments designed for assistance.
Buttons on the left made it easier for a maid facing her to fasten them.” This became a symbol of femininity and privilege.
Practical Beginnings for Men
Men’s right-side buttons had a functional origin: “Right-handed men, who typically carried weapons on their left side, needed swift access.
Buttons on the right allowed them to easily open their coats with their dominant hand to draw a sword or pistol.”
Modern Legacy
Though the practical reasons faded, the custom remains. Today, it survives “as a matter of custom and gendered design rather than function,”
quietly reflecting how history, class, and gender were woven into everyday clothing.
