If you’ve ever noticed that buttons on women’s shirts sit on the left while men’s are usually on the right, you might have wondered why such a small difference exists. It’s an easy detail to miss, yet it has lasted for centuries. This isn’t a modern fashion quirk or a random choice—it’s a quiet tradition shaped by history, social class, and practicality.
The origins trace back to Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when clothing reflected status as much as style. Wealthy women often didn’t dress themselves. Instead, attendants helped fasten their elaborate garments. Since most assistants were right-handed, women’s buttons were placed on the left, making it easier for someone facing them to button the clothing efficiently.
