Have you ever noticed that men and women have buttons on opposite sides of their clothing? Well, there's apparently a good, but totally outdated, reason for that as fashion experts have figured out.
While it's a tiny difference most people have never given much thought to, the humble shirt buttons up on a completely different side depending on whether it's designed for a man or a woman.
Men's shirts have buttons sewn on the right flap, with the left having the buttonholes, while women's shirts have the buttons on the left, and the buttonholes on the right.
But why is that?
Over the years, many fashion enthusiasts have taken the time to investigate why this subtle but important difference was used when it came to men's and women's clothing, with many attributing it to archaic cultural practices.
In eras when most people were right-handed, it was easier for servants or family members to assist in dressing women which meant that placing the buttons on the opposite side for men's and women's clothing facilitated this process.
Speaking to HuffPost, Scott Liebenberg, the CEO of Tapered Menswear said: "Back in the day, dressing up was a big deal, especially if you were wealthy. Ladies often had maids to help them dress, so having buttons on the left made it easier for a right-handed helper."
Natalie Hicks, a designer at the clothing company Our Visn also agreed with the theory, telling the outlet: "Noble women wore heavy textiles and gowns could have up to six layers, so they would have a servant or attendant assisting them into their multilayered garment of petticoats, bustles, a corset, and other undergarments.
"Buttons were therefore installed in the opposite direction of what was standard for men’s clothing as the attendant would stand in front of her mistress and quickly dress or undress her," she continued, before adding that this subtle tradition has failed to be a thing of the past.
So why hasn't this trend changed despite many other things shifting for both genders?
"In the 19th century buttons were incorporated more in everyday women's clothing due to advances in sewing technology," Hicks explained. "The difference in placement between menswear and womenswear is essentially a holdover from the 13th century that has never been corrected. Designers are creating new looks [based] on old patterns."
Liebenberg also added: "There’s no concrete evidence as to why [this is still the case]," but he noted that the fashion industry still has a heavy reliance on ancient traditions.
"Once a particular style or feature becomes standardized, it tends to continue although style evolves, the general patterns remain the same," he added.
Not just that, but general rules and regulations for manufacturing companies tend to stay pretty rigid according to the CEO.
"I’m sure there are other ways to tell the difference [men’s and women’s garments] but when the shirt placket is attached separately on the garment, it may be easier for the assembly line to understand what kind of shirt it is," he stated. "It could just be about streamlining operations up until the modern day."
But despite certain traditions being important to keep an entire industry from falling into seeming chaos, Liebenberg emphasized the importance of questioning them in the modern era.
"I think it’s important to question traditions," he said. "Why not mix it up and make clothes that feel right for everyone, regardless of which hand they use to button up in the morning?"
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