1. Where the Difference Began: 18th–19th Century Fashion
To understand modern button placement, it helps to revisit a time when clothing was far more complex than today’s casual wear. In the 1700s and 1800s, fashion was deeply tied to class and status.
Why Women’s Shirts Button on the Left
During the Victorian era, women of wealth wore layered, structured garments that included corsets, petticoats, and elaborate outerwear. Dressing was often impossible without help. Because most people were right-handed, servants standing in front of their employers found it easier to fasten buttons positioned on the wearer’s left side.
This arrangement made the dressing process quicker and more efficient for attendants. When mass-produced clothing became common, this design choice remained. Even after women began dressing themselves, left-side buttons continued as a mark of refinement and eventually became the accepted standard for women’s clothing.
2. Why Men’s Shirts Button on the Right
Men’s clothing followed a different path, largely because men’s roles and daily activities were not the same as women’s—particularly among the upper classes.
The Practical Logic Behind Men’s Clothing
Historically, men dressed themselves, and many also carried weapons. Swords were typically worn on the left side of the body so they could be drawn quickly with the right hand.
If a jacket or shirt overlapped the wrong way, the fabric could interfere with pulling a weapon free. Buttons placed on the right ensured the garment opened from left to right, reducing the risk of snagging. For right-handed men, this layout was also simply more natural when dressing alone.
