The real, historically accurate reason women’s shirts (and blouses, jackets, dresses, etc.) button on the opposite side from men’s is rooted in how wealthy people dressed in the 19th century and earlier.
The Core Historical Explanation
- Men’s clothing buttons left-over-right (buttons on the right side, buttonholes on the left) because most men are right-handed. When a man dressed himself, it was easier and faster to push the button through the hole with his dominant hand.
- Women’s clothing buttons right-over-left (buttons on the left, buttonholes on the right) because, for centuries, upper-class women did not dress themselves — they had maids or ladies’ maids who did it for them.
