Why do men's and women's shirts button on opposite directions?
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"This is a result of the preponderance of right-handed people, coupled with the tradition of ladies being dressed by a lady's maid rather than dressing themselves. Men's clothes are designed to be buttoned by the wearer and as such the button is on the right (from the point of view of the person wearing the garment) in order to benefit the right-handed majority when buttoning up. Women's clothes have the button on the opposite side, making it easier for the person who is dressing the lady. Until the 20th century, no lady of any standing would have been expected to suffer the chore of dressing herself."
Source: Shirt buttons - Questions answered - Letter - The Register, The Times, 23 May 2002, retrieved from Factiva database, last accessed 10 August 2006
"Some say this is done because many years ago women were dressed by their servant, slave, hand-maiden, or lady-in-waiting, and men usually dressed themsleves. In earlier days, women usually had their buttons in the back, that's why they had to have someone button them up. This made it easier for both parties, since 90% people are right-handed it was easier to button a shirt if the button was on the right."
Source: What Side Are The Buttons On?, last accessed 10 August 2006
"This goes back to the days of royalty and servants. A women's servant would stand in front and button the women's shirt for her. Buttons were put on the left to make this easier for the servant. Therefore, having the buttons on the left side of your shirt also indicated you were a women of means."
Source: Why are the buttons on a women's shirt on the left?, last accessed 10 August 2006
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Answered by Sharon Ong, Librarian, Adult and Young People's Services
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