Men’s vs. Women’s Shirt Buttons : A Fashion Tradition You’ve Never Thought To Question

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There are countless things in life we take for granted without ever questioning their origins. We use them, rely on them, and accept them as normal, even if we've never stopped to wonder why they are the way they are.

Some things, like the way clothes are designed, can carry stories and traditions that stretch back centuries. One such detail can be found in the design of something as simple as a shirt.

It's something we've all worn, but have you ever wondered why it's made the way it is? There's an interesting reason behind it that you might not expect.

Photo Credit: Pexels

Men On The Right, Women On The Left

For centuries, men's shirt buttons have been sewn on the right side, while women's buttons sit on the left, a detail so ingrained in fashion that few stop to question it. Curiously, there's no official explanation for this divide, but plenty of historical theories offer clues.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, buttonholes first appeared in the 13th century and quickly became a marker of status.

By the 14th century, buttons made from precious materials like gold, silver, and ivory symbolised wealth and rank. While practicality and social norms likely shaped the button placement we see today, the exact reasoning though remains a blend of speculation and tradition.

Theories In History

In the old days, men often carried weapons like swords, daggers, or axes tucked into their clothing, ready for action. Since most were right-handed, having buttons on the right side made it easier to access their gear or fasten their shirts swiftly, even in the heat of battle.

Chloe Chapin, a fashion historian and Harvard University PhD candidate, noted that much of men's fashion stems from military needs. Paul Keers, author of 'A Gentleman's Wardrobe', told the Guardian that even something as simple as button placement could mean the difference between survival and defeat in a fight.

Another theory says that in the early days buttons were more than just functional they were a luxury. According to Natalie Hicks, a designer at apparel company Our Visn, wealthy women used buttons as embellishments, often crafted from pearls or precious stones, to adorn their lavish garments. In contrast, the less affluent wore simpler, slip-on tunics or chemises that didn't require buttons.

Scott Liebenberg, CEO of Tapered Menswear, explained that wealthy women also had maids to assist with dressing, and placing buttons on the left made it easier for a right-handed helper to fasten them.

Hicks echoes this, noting that noblewomen wore elaborate outfits with multiple layers, including petticoats and corsets, which required assistance to put on or remove. In contrast, men, who typically dressed themselves, found right-side buttons more practical for their needs. Thus, button placement became a subtle indicator of wealth and social standing.

Why Does The Tradition Continue?

By the 19th century, advances in sewing technology made buttons more common in women's everyday clothing, but the gendered placement of buttons remains a holdover from the 13th century, explained Natalie Hicks. She noted that designers continue to create modern looks based on old patterns.

Scott Liebenberg added that fashion's reliance on tradition might also explain why this practice persists, stating that once a style becomes standardized, it tends to stick. He also suggested that manufacturing processes might play a role, as separate shirt plackets help streamline production by distinguishing between men's and women's designs.

Hicks observed that most people don't even realize button placement is gendered and simply attribute it to a design choice, while Liebenberg pointed out that it's not something people think about in their daily lives. However, he argued that questioning traditions is important and proposed creating clothing that works for everyone, regardless of which hand they use to button up.

Photo Credit: Pexels

Ultimately some theories take a more practical or historical turn. It's suggested that women often held their babies in their left arm while breastfeeding, making it easier to unbutton clothing with their free right hand.

Another intriguing idea links the trend to Napoleon, who is said to have standardized clothing for women in a way that made dressing deliberately inconvenient, possibly as a reflection of societal control.

While these ideas remain speculative, they offer a glimpse into how practicality, tradition, and even power dynamics have quietly influenced the details of everyday fashion.