Why do women's blouses have the buttons on the left? [ 2006-03-16 08:00 ]
Men's shirts have the buttons on the right, but
women's blouses have the buttons on the left. This is more
than just a way to tell whether a shirt is for men or women.
There is a historical reason for it.
During the Victorian period, buttons were quite expensive,
and were mostly worn by rich people. Since proper, well-to-do
ladies were dressed by their servants, and most people are
right-handed, their buttons were placed on the servant's
right, which is the wearer's left side. However, most
gentlemen dressed themselves, so their buttons were placed on
the wearer's right side.
Those who could not afford servants copied the style of the
wealthy, and women's buttons thereafter remained on the left.
|
| | |
|