# Buttons on clothing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116 "2002-04-17T12:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fizzgog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Fizzgog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fizzgog)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/1 "2002-04-17T12:20:11Z")
Why are the buttons on mens clothes on the right but on womens clothes on the left? ---
**Author:** ![Nora\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Nora\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nora_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/2 "2002-04-17T12:56:11Z")
Because then the man, if he is right-handed, can easily reach something in his inside pocket. The woman traditionally is seated or walks to the right of her male escort, and then he’s the only one who can peek in her shirt where it might gape a little between the buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/3 "2002-04-17T13:08:38Z")
Much as I like Nora’s answer, the explanation I always heard was that men buttoned their own clothing, women had theirs buttoned by their ladies-in-waiting (or maids, or whatever). In both cases, the buttons are where right-handed people can use them most easily. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/4 "2002-04-17T13:17:01Z")
**Gary T** ’s explanation is what i’ve heard as well. having said that, i’m a girl who’s worn men’s bdus and the only button down shirts i’ve worn the past couple years were male working shirts (i worked at a gas station, and when i’m not there i wear tshirts and said bdus or skirts and tops). and i finally got a pair of jeans yesterday, and lo and behold, i am having a _hell_ of a time getting used to women’s zipper/button placement! and i always fumble with the buttons on the one women’s shirt i have. psshht. guess i should’ve been born a guy. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nora\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Nora\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nora_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/5 "2002-04-17T13:18:59Z")
I think that’s true for clothes than button in the back (that the buttons are handier for the assistant) but clothes that button in the front are presumably buttoned by the person wearing them. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/6 "2002-04-17T13:45:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nora Charles \* > \*\*I think that’s true for clothes than button in the back (that the buttons are handier for the assistant) but clothes that button in the front are presumably buttoned by the person wearing them. \*\* Nowadays, yes. But centuries ago, when these conventions were established, the noble ladies (the only ones who mattered) were dressed by their servants. So the story goes. ---
**Author:** ![friggae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/45deac/32.png) [@friggae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friggae)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/7 "2002-04-17T14:16:43Z")
[The Master speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_023a.html) and gives an alternate explanation. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/8 "2002-04-17T18:53:52Z")
**zweisamkeit** : bdus? Huh? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/9 "2002-04-17T20:24:41Z")
I’m wondering about the bdus, too. Is that some sort of Tunisian slang? ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buttons-on-clothing/104116/10 "2002-04-17T20:43:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by postcards \* > \*\ ***zweisamkeit** : > bdus? > Huh? \*\* **B** attle **D** ress **U** niform - military “fatigues” or “cammies” being referred to by their proper name.