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During the Victorian era, this design choice also reflected cultural ideas of femininity and women were seen as graceful, refined, and dependent. The left-sided buttons reinforced this image, distinguishing their fashion from the more āpracticalā menās clothing.
The Menās Side: Function Over Fashion
For men, the button placement had very different origins. Most men were right-handed, and during times of war or hunting, they carried weapons on the left side. Having buttons on the right made it easier to open a coat or jacket with the right hand and draw a weapon quickly.
This layout remained in menās fashion for centuries, passed down from military uniforms to everyday shirts. Over time, it became another way to visually separate menās and womenās clothing.
From Practicality to Tradition
As society changed, women started dressing themselves, and men no longer carried swords but the button difference stayed. It no longer served a practical purpose, yet fashion designers kept it as part of the heritage and identity of each genderās clothing.
What It Means Today
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