Ever had that moment when you realize you didn’t know about something that you were supposed to know? Have you felt the stinging personal embarrassment of a moment wherein you realize there’s some common knowledge that isn’t so common – to you? Don’t feel bad; nobody knows everything except the almighty ‘Internet’!
Here is one thing that is common but not well known – male and female shirts having different sides for buttons. While male shirt buttons are usually arranged on the right side and buttonhole flaps on the left, a female shirt is the opposite, unless maybe your tailor didn’t get the memo.
There are a few (unconfirmed) theories on why this difference exists:
- To make breastfeeding easier for mothers, because most mothers usually carry babies on the left side. So the right hand would be used to unbutton shirts easily and quickly for breastfeeding.
- During the Victorian era when upper class women had their servants dress them up, it was easier and faster for a maidservant to button up her Madame with her right hand since she’ll be facing her. Plus, the dresses in those days were quite long.
The Napoleon pose that was mimicked during his time by ladies made him pronounce that all ladies shirt’s buttons be arranged on the left.- Women rode horses to the right in the 19th century, so as not to allow the wind blow the flat flap (button hole flap) and expose their skin, their buttons were to be designed on the left.
- The sword was part of the men’s clothing some hundred years ago. So while the right hand was used to hold/draw the sword, the left would be easy to unbutton shirts.
- Setting aside all philosophy or theory, a practical reason would be the early days of industrialization when designers decided to differentiate men’s clothing from women’s. Designers actually had our interest in mind beyond all sentimental reasons, maybe we should ask Mai Atafo.
So when you see your girl in a shirt with buttons on the right, beware! Ask questions.