You can always tell apart clothes made for men and clothes made for women by the buttons. Men’s clothes usually have buttons on the right side, while women’s clothes have buttons on the right side. But have you ever wondered why that is?
Well, no one actually knows the exact reasons why the positioning of the buttons is the way it is; there are several theories with historical backing that could help explain it.
According to one theory, the reason why men’s and women’s clothes have buttons on opposite sides has to do a lot with the fashion in the 13th and 14th centuries. At the time, women from the middle and upper class were known for their elaborate outfits. Putting the clothes on and off was quite laborious, so they had their servants do it for them. Having buttons on the left side helped the servants do the job easier and faster. On the other hand, men usually buttoned themselves, so it made sense for them to have buttons on the right side.
Other theories indicate that the positioning of the buttons stems from other practical purposes. For example, when riding a horse, women would usually sit on the side of the saddle with the right side of their body facing front. The buttons on the left prevented the breeze from getting through their clothes.
Having buttons on the right side helped men while drawing their swords. They held their swords on the left hip and drew them with their right hand. If their buttons were on the left side of their shirt, they would risk having the handle of the sword getting stuck.
Of course, none of this is relevant in the modern age, but the fashion industry still continues to follow the same button orientation even today.