Here's Why Women's And Men's Shirts Button On Different Sides

© Bogdan-Florea/Shutterstock The button differential

Once upon a time, your gender determined your Fashion choices. For most of the last few hundred years in the Western world, women wore dresses and skirts, and men wore pants. Except for the Scots. Thankfully, fashion has evolved such that both men and women are now free to wear anything they please, although it's still suggested to take fashion tips from personal stylists.

There are a few gendered fashion trends that persist, however, and it's one that makes women's dressing just a little more difficult than it needs to be: buttons! Buttons appear on different sides of a shirt or jacket depending on which gender it was designed for. Despite the fact that the vast majority of all humans are right-handed, only men's shirts have buttons on the right side. Women's shirts have buttons on the left side. Great for lefties, but an extra couple of minutes in the morning for everyone else.

It seems particularly absurd given the relative similarity in the shape of men's and women's shirts. Sure, there might be a little extra tailoring to account for some generalized curves, but the humble button-up shirt is one of the more unisex items of clothing regularly worn by both sexes. A good shirt can even help you dress to look younger. So why the button bewilderment?

Why women's and men's shirts have buttons on different sides

The origins of the opposite-button debate have been lost over time, though historians do have theories. Back in the day (think 13th century), buttons were only for those who could afford them. Everyone else simply tied their clothes with strips of cloth, or fastened them with wooden toggles. As well as having clothes that buttoned, middle- and upper-class women also usually had maids to help them get into and out of their elaborate outfits. It's difficult to get into corsets, bustles, hoop skirts, and several layers of petticoats by yourself. Knowing that someone else would be doing the buttoning, dressmakers sewed the buttons onto the left side of women's garments to make it easier for the maid to do them up right-handed. Once clothes started being mass-produced, the custom became standardized, and no one has thought to change it to this day, including during our recent need for stylish tops for Zoom calls.

There are other theories, most notably regarding babies and horses. Again, as most women are right-handed, they tend to carry their wee ones with their left arms on their left hips. This frees up their right hand for answering the phone, putting the kettle on, and unbuttoning their shirt if still breastfeeding. With regard to horses, well, women started off riding sidesaddle, usually turned to the left side. Although this is almost certainly terrible news for your back and hips, shirts and jackets that buttoned with the right flap over the left would let in less wind as you galloped along.

Right-hand dominance

But what about men? True, having considerably less constrictive outfits, they usually dressed themselves. That may have contributed to the right-button-placket convention. But the real answer might go way, way back to the days of knights, jousting, and chivalry. Men's shirts button with the left flap over the right, which mimics one of the oldest conventions of battle: Shield on the left arm, sword in the right. As your enemy's lance would have been in his right hand, armor plates overlapped from left to right to keep that shield side doubly protected. Even as times changed and weaponry evolved, men's clothing retained echoes of military trappings, and was often designed to include accommodations for swords and pistols. As these were mostly held in the right hand, it was advantageous to be able to unbutton with the left.

So there you have it! The thing is, there's absolutely no reason why this strange artifact of gender inequality should linger on in today's buttoned garments. Lefties may disagree, but living in a world that respects right-hand dominance when it comes to coats, jackets, and shirts would be another (if admittedly small) step toward gender equality. After all, the button differential has been used before to argue that women are physically inferior to men, needing help to dress themselves as they must. Why else would the buttons be on the left side? But, short of switching to zippers, we might be stuck with button bewilderment for a few more years. Of course, there's always the option to tailor your own clothes instead.

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Modern Muslim Women In Fashion

As fashion trends keep changing, young Muslim Women are finding creative ways to stay current while adhering to their religion and culture. Despite challenges, Muslim women are carving out their own space in the fashion world and redefining what it means to be fashionable while staying modest. Some stereotypes assume that Muslim women must wear the Hijab (headscarf) or they're expected to be covered head to toe, but per the religion, it's all a choice. Fashion and the way these women dress are completely up to them, and today, we can see how these women are making them their own. Using different cultural clothing, colors, and outfit accessories, every Muslim woman dresses differently. 

Narges Torabinejad is a 26 year old Iranian-Muslim model from Virginia. Torabinejad takes pride in her Iranian culture, and incorporates that into a lot of her looks. 

Model Narges Torabinejad in traditional Iranian scarf. Photography by Roxanna Carrasco.

"I wouldn't really say my personal style is influenced by anything. I try to dress for myself regardless of what goes in or out of style," Torabinejad said. One accessory I can't live without would be my evil eye necklace. My family is pretty superstitious so it's always on my neck, ready to protect me." 

Many of these young women take pride in the cultures that they have lived with their entire lives. The importance of religion versus culture when it comes to Islam is important in identifying how these women represent themselves in today's fashion culture. Torabinejad prides herself in dressing in Iranian traditional clothing —with colorful head scarves and dresses — but most of the time she loves to dress in black clothing. 

"I wouldn't really say my personal style is influenced by anything. I try to dress for myself regardless of what goes in or out of style," Torabinejad said. 

The importance of the Hijab in Islam is vast. It's a symbol worldwide of the women in this religion. Many women who wear the Hijab in the United States Do so by choice, while some do so out of cultural obligation. Nonetheless, being a Hijabi woman and staying on top of American fashion trends can be a challenge. Hijabs can be worn in a range of different styles, colors, and textures, and can be paired with any jeans, long blazers and coats, and even skirts and dresses. 

"I wore a hijab from ages 9-18 and still do in religious or family settings. Growing up in Southwest Virginia..I never felt American enough for Americans or Muslim enough for my family," Torabinejad said. 

It's important to understand that religious and cultural symbols like the Hijab are not a trend; they are a part of someone's lifestyle. 

"I definitely think Muslim women deserve to take up more space in the fashion industry. I see many articles of clothing or runway looks that are modest and suitable for a hijabi woman, but unfortunately, Muslim models are not sought out or prioritized," Torabinejad said. 

Maryam Rahimie is a 17 year old Hijabi model. She believes that dressing well is all about "feeling good." She loves to include different aspects of her personality into her style like high-quality clothing including denim on denim with a mix of A-line mini and maxi skirts.

Model Maryam Rahimie in personal earrings and Hijab. Photography by Roxanna Carrasco.

Rahimie believes that the staple to any outfit is a signature coat and the importance of layering, which can include lots of different colors, patterns, and textures, depending on what works for her. 

"For this shoot, I chose a beautiful maroon trench coat that belonged to my grandmother and was originally thrifted. It has a lot of sentimental value for me as it reminds me of her. My grandmother is definitely my style icon, and I would describe her fashion taste as "cozy chic."," Rahimie said. 

Being a Hijabi fashion model is a huge inspiration to all Muslims around the world, ending what could be considered harsh stereotypes can create a space for many Hijabi women to take their style into their own hands, and create looks that are inspirational and one-of-a-kind. Being Hijabi doesn't hinder the ability to have style; even the most gorgeous looks can be crafted while still being modest.

"My love for fashion was sparked at a very young age, as my family can attest. My dad fondly remembers my closet raids as a toddler, and I always found joy in putting together outfits and experimenting with different styles," Rahimie said. As kids, we have an innate sense of what brings us joy and direction in life, and for me, that was always fashion…Fashion is more than just clothes to me – it's a form of self-expression and a way to showcase my creativity." 

Many Muslim women experiment with various fabrics and textures to create unique clothes that are both modest and stylish. They might choose breathable cottons in the summer and comfortable coats in the winter. They might also experiment with designs, stitching, and different accessories, especially those that speak to cultural or religious values. "Apart from my hijab, there's one clothing item that I absolutely cannot do without – a high-quality coat. Not only does it serve as a versatile layering piece, but it's also a functional necessity since I tend to get cold easily," Rahimie said. 

All Muslim women are different in the way they choose to express their styles, the spectrum of this representation stretches widely across the world. Stereotypes are put onto Muslim women about how they should dress and whether or not they should wear the hijab. Desiree Amina Pare is one of those women breaking those stereotypes. 

Pare is a 28 year old Nominal Muslim. A Nominal Muslim is someone who identifies as a Muslim culturally and through familial experiences but might not practice the religion itself. Nonetheless, Pare takes fashion trends and makes them into her own. When asked how she picks her personal style based on the constantly changing fashion trends, she replied: "I stick to my roots, what feels comfortable to me, what compliments me most, and overall trying not to compare myself to anyone else, especially how toxic social media can be."

Model Desiree Pare. Photography by Roxanna Carrasco.

Family is an important aspect of all of these Muslim women. Incorporating a familial piece of clothing is a significant trend we see today, with a lot of Y2K clothing from parents, and timeless accessories from older generations. 

"One accessory I can't live without are my two gold necklaces from my grandmother," Pare said. 

When asked about how Pare feels confident in her own style she said this: "I've always been the one who stood out so one day I decided why not give them something to talk about, embracing who I truly was and I realized how happy and free I could be."

Fashion for Muslim women is as diverse as the women who wear it. Muslim women have discovered ways to express themselves through their clothes while keeping to their beliefs. Each outfit is unique to the wearer and represents their distinctive style. It's important that young Muslim girls see this, and aren't afraid to express their personal style through their fashion

(left) Model Desiree Pare in all personally thrifted clothing. (center) Model Maryam Rahimie in black bodysuit, black blazer, and flare jeans personally thrifted. (right) Model Narges Torabinejad in traditional Iranian green blouse, and orange head scarf. Photography by Roxanna Carrasco.

"Something I would tell a younger Muslim woman or my younger self would be to not focus so much on appearance. (Which is something I realized in my later years that wearing a hijab proves) I was so focused on what people thought of me, it consumed my mind, not allowing me to get to know who I was internally because I was so consumed with the external. You are worthy and valid regardless of what you're wearing," Torabinejad said. 

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Models: Narges Torabinejad, Maryam Rahimie, Desiree Pare 

Photography: Roxanna Carrasco

All models styled by themselves.

5 Tops For Women To Look Stylish Everyday

Are you looking for tops for women that you can wear in casual, everyday wear? Well, we all look for comfort factor, but equally important is how you feel in a particular apparel. The clothes we wear have a bearing on how we feel in our skin. So, it is vital to ensure we feel cool and chic everyday. From peplum tops, to those with ruffle sleeves and cap sleeves, there are many flattering types of tops that one can introduce to one's summer wardrobe 2023. We have rounded up some options for you. From floral prints, smock detailing, crop tops to vibrant colours - you will find a great mix in our selections.

Women from across age groups will definitely find something that will appeal to their style sensibilities. They all are available on Snapdeal and come at budget-friendly prices. Scroll on to take a look and add them to your cart to elevate your style.

UrbanMark Women Solid Flared Sleeves Peplum Top with Smocking on Yoke - Rose GoldThis peplum top has flared sleeves. It features smock detailing on the yoke. Available in Rose Gold colour, this one is super comfortable to wear, stylish and made from good quality polyester material. You can wear this in casual wear to ace the everyday look. One can wear this with a high waist palazzo, a pair of jeans or even a pencil skirt.

UrbanMark Women Printed Ruffle Sleeves Peplum Top with Smocking on Yoke- Navy BlueThis printed peplum top is a stylish one indeed. The fit of the garment is flattering to say the least. Available in navy blue colour option, it will look good on women from different age groups. It features a floral print and smock detailing on the yoke of the garment. The apparel has cap sleeves and is perfect for everyday wear.

UrbanMark Women Round Neck Solid Crop Top with Ruffle Sleeves- PinkThis top in pretty pink colour will look gorgeous on you. It is a crop top with ruffle sleeves. Made from polyester material, you can wear this one years down the lane and it will look stylish. A denim shorts, high waist flare pants or a pair of jeans will go well with this garment. Introduce this to your wardrobe now.

UrbanMark Women Floral Printed Peplum Top with Ruffle Sleeves - Navy BlueThis peplum top features a floral print on it. It has ruffle sleeves and is available in navy blue colour. Made from rayon fabric, this one will enhance the style quotient of women. The detailing on the waist of the top will help cinch it. This apparel has a refreshing appeal and women will love wearing this one for its flattering fit.

UrbanMark Women Square Neck Printed Ruffle Top with Flared Sleeves - PeachThis ruffle top with flared sleeves is for all those of you who like to wear garments with relaxed fit. This one is available in peach colour and has a square neckline. It is made from rayon material and features an abstract print on it. Comfortable and casual, this top will make for a lovely addition to your wardrobe.

At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

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