If you have ever accidentally put on a shirt intended for the opposite gender, or if you ever fold the laundry of a household with both men and women, we bet you’ve noticed that the placement of the buttons for men’s and women’s shirts are different.

Men’s shirts have their buttons on the right side while women’s shirts have their buttons on the left side. But have you ever wondered why?

Women’s shirt buttons are on the left while men’s buttons are on the right. Credit: Tid Bit/YouTube.​

Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging because here’s the answer. As it turns out, the real reason for the different placement is… nothing!

Yes, you heard that right. There is no real reason.

As of today, there is actually no singular reason why men’s and women’s shirt buttons are on different sides.

However, a number of people online have shared several theories as to why the garments of today have different button placements. And all of them point towards the word: tradition.

One theory is that: apparently, centuries ago, women were dressed by servants who tended to be right-handed. Men on the other hand used to dress themselves.

And since buttons used to be part of elaborate and exquisite designs back then, they were considered luxurious items that could only be afforded by the wealthy. It wasn’t until decades passed that common people started incorporating the buttons in their clothes as well, but the placement has remained the same.

Another theory explains that the placement was made for convenience. Since men back then used to hold sword matches, it was more efficient for them to hold their swords in their right hand and use their left hand to unbutton their shirts.

Since most men were right-handed and most swords were placed on the left side of their hips, this would mean that coats would be buttoned left over right. No one wants to draw a sword and get the guard all caught up on their coat, are they?

For women, instead of swords, they held their babies in their left hand. The free right hand then was used to unbutton their shirts for easy breastfeeding.

A third theory states that, as time went on, women’s clothes took many features from men’s clothes to express that both sexes were equal. But since they still wanted some “minor touches” to be different, they opted to have their buttons on the other side.

So, there you have it, folks! Although these are only assumptions made by people on the Internet over the years, it is still nice to know that an everyday sight such as the placement of shirt buttons has roots in a time long gone.

We all learn something new every day!

What do you think? Do you have any theories as to why men’s and women's clothes have opposite buttons? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Susie]

The REAL reason why men’s and women’s shirt buttons are on different sides​

If you have ever accidentally put on a shirt intended for the opposite gender, or if you ever fold the laundry of a household with both men and women, we bet you’ve noticed that the placement of the buttons for men’s and women’s shirts are different.

Men’s shirts have their buttons on the right side while women’s shirts have their buttons on the left side. But have you ever wondered why?

Women’s shirt buttons are on the left while men’s buttons are on the right. Credit: Tid Bit/YouTube.​

Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging because here’s the answer. As it turns out, the real reason for the different placement is… nothing!

Yes, you heard that right. There is no real reason.

As of today, there is actually no singular reason why men’s and women’s shirt buttons are on different sides.

However, a number of people online have shared several theories as to why the garments of today have different button placements. And all of them point towards the word: tradition.

One theory is that: apparently, centuries ago, women were dressed by servants who tended to be right-handed. Men on the other hand used to dress themselves.

And since buttons used to be part of elaborate and exquisite designs back then, they were considered luxurious items that could only be afforded by the wealthy. It wasn’t until decades passed that common people started incorporating the buttons in their clothes as well, but the placement has remained the same.

Another theory explains that the placement was made for convenience. Since men back then used to hold sword matches, it was more efficient for them to hold their swords in their right hand and use their left hand to unbutton their shirts.

Since most men were right-handed and most swords were placed on the left side of their hips, this would mean that coats would be buttoned left over right. No one wants to draw a sword and get the guard all caught up on their coat, are they?

For women, instead of swords, they held their babies in their left hand. The free right hand then was used to unbutton their shirts for easy breastfeeding.

A third theory states that, as time went on, women’s clothes took many features from men’s clothes to express that both sexes were equal. But since they still wanted some “minor touches” to be different, they opted to have their buttons on the other side.

So, there you have it, folks! Although these are only assumptions made by people on the Internet over the years, it is still nice to know that an everyday sight such as the placement of shirt buttons has roots in a time long gone.

We all learn something new every day!

What do you think? Do you have any theories as to why men’s and women's clothes have opposite buttons? Let us know in the comments below!

It is actually about IMPORT TARIFFS. The import tariff on women’s apparel is more than double that of men. A shirt is a shirt is a shirt or so we would think. But identifying a shirt as male or female apparel by the side on which it is buttoned determines the percentage of the import tariff. This also explains why women’s clothing is more expensive than men’s.

 

[Johno54]

I also noticed that the fold of material over the trousers fly also varies from left to right depending on the wearers gender.

 

[Susie]

I also noticed that the fold of material over the trousers fly also varies from left to right depending on the wearers gender.

Absolutely correct, John. Another example of designating the gender and thus manipulating the import tariff percentage.

 

[Gaena]

the explanation of buttons on men's clothing being about where their sword was positioned cannot be correct as during those times in history buttons were not commonly in use

 

[Barbs helen]

The REAL reason why men’s and women’s shirt buttons are on different sides​

If you have ever accidentally put on a shirt intended for the opposite gender, or if you ever fold the laundry of a household with both men and women, we bet you’ve noticed that the placement of the buttons for men’s and women’s shirts are different.

Men’s shirts have their buttons on the right side while women’s shirts have their buttons on the left side. But have you ever wondered why?

Women’s shirt buttons are on the left while men’s buttons are on the right. Credit: Tid Bit/YouTube.​

Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging because here’s the answer. As it turns out, the real reason for the different placement is… nothing!

Yes, you heard that right. There is no real reason.

As of today, there is actually no singular reason why men’s and women’s shirt buttons are on different sides.

However, a number of people online have shared several theories as to why the garments of today have different button placements. And all of them point towards the word: tradition.

One theory is that: apparently, centuries ago, women were dressed by servants who tended to be right-handed. Men on the other hand used to dress themselves.

And since buttons used to be part of elaborate and exquisite designs back then, they were considered luxurious items that could only be afforded by the wealthy. It wasn’t until decades passed that common people started incorporating the buttons in their clothes as well, but the placement has remained the same.

Another theory explains that the placement was made for convenience. Since men back then used to hold sword matches, it was more efficient for them to hold their swords in their right hand and use their left hand to unbutton their shirts.

Since most men were right-handed and most swords were placed on the left side of their hips, this would mean that coats would be buttoned left over right. No one wants to draw a sword and get the guard all caught up on their coat, are they?

For women, instead of swords, they held their babies in their left hand. The free right hand then was used to unbutton their shirts for easy breastfeeding.

A third theory states that, as time went on, women’s clothes took many features from men’s clothes to express that both sexes were equal. But since they still wanted some “minor touches” to be different, they opted to have their buttons on the other side.

So, there you have it, folks! Although these are only assumptions made by people on the Internet over the years, it is still nice to know that an everyday sight such as the placement of shirt buttons has roots in a time long gone.

We all learn something new every day!

What do you think? Do you have any theories as to why men’s and women's clothes have opposite buttons? Let us know in the comments below!

Simplify it and put the buttons on the same side I say but then whose side is going to come out on top. I suspect women will have to get used to buttoning the other way because many men are unwilling to change such a drastic "tradition". Is this the same for pants and skirts?

 

[Vinylted]

I also noticed that the fold of material over the trousers fly also varies from left to right depending on the wearers gender.

Huh! Why would women need fly's in their trousers..... puzzling....

 

[Barbs helen]

Women need something to get the trousers on. We don't have up and down figures, we generally go out in the hips and in at the waist

 

[Julia TH]

Simplify it and put the buttons on the same side I say but then whose side is going to come out on top. I suspect women will have to get used to buttoning the other way because many men are unwilling to change such a drastic "tradition". Is this the same for pants and skirts?

 

[Julia TH]

Yes, it is the same. Fastenings on women's skirts and trousers cover right to left as you move around the body. This is why women always have side openings on the left. As you to to back fastening they then go left to right.