👗 Why Women’s Buttons Are on the Left

• Dressing Assistance: In the 18th and 19th centuries, upper-class women were often dressed by maids. Placing buttons on the left made it easier for right-handed servants to fasten garments while facing the wearer.

• Infant Care: Some historians suggest that women commonly held babies in their left arm, leaving the right hand free to unbutton clothing for nursing.

• Fashion Symbolism: Left-sided buttons may have also signified wealth and status, as only affluent women could afford help with dressing.

👔 Why Men’s Buttons Are on the Right

• Military Tradition: Most men are right-handed, and in the past, they carried swords on their left hip. Having buttons on the right made it easier to unbutton a coat with the left hand while drawing a weapon with the right.

• Self-Dressing: Unlike women, men typically dressed themselves, so right-side buttons were more intuitive for right-handed individuals.

🧵 A Tradition That Stuck

Although the original reasons are largely obsolete today, the button placement tradition has persisted as a subtle marker of gendered fashion. It’s one of those small but fascinating details that reflect how history continues to shape our everyday lives.