just_the_scraps_m'am

somebody's gotta have the answer to this one...especially since there are so many who make clothing on the board.

WHY are the buttons on men's shirts opposite from buttons on women's shirts?????

this question has plagued me for YEARS--so please solve it!

Murphy

Women's buttons are opposite from men's side (vise versa) because back then maids or servants would button a woman's buttons for her, so the buttons would be on the side facing the maids. Men didn't need servants to button their buttons so the buttons would be on the side more convient for the man to button them.

Momma_K

Good question! I've wondered that myself.

JoAnnGC

Fastening a button left over right (the male way) is supposedly easier for right-handed people than it is for southpaws. The reason for the gender variance is not known for sure, but a widely accepted explanation is that women’s buttons are reversed comes from back in medieval times. In those days, it was common for women to be dressed by their servants, who were typically right-handed.

Another popular (and probably not true) alternative is that men had to keep their right hands tucked into the coats to be ready for swordplay, and that women used the left side of their dresses to protect their babies when breastfeeding

just_the_scraps_m'am

hmmm, all good answers, so you are telling me functionality had everything to do with how tailors made clothes?

the second part of this question is WHY do we still do it this way??? are there no unisex buttoning techniques?

bearisgray

This doesn't answer the question, but it helps me remember which side to put the buttonholes on -

Women are always RIGHT - and men are always LEFT OVER!

just_the_scraps_m'am

that's a good one! & all so TRUE, too!

stitchinwitch

zipper flaps are opposite too

SherriB

I love this!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

dreamboat

I never had really noticed that they were opposite.
Shows how much I pay attention.