I have wondered this myself. Thanks for the info, Michelle.

I bought a cruise jacket in Italy and the zipper was on the wrong side. Everyone that got one was the same. We were told it was the style at the time. I always had problems with it.

I've known about for quite a while, but here's the really strange thing: in the military a knife must still be drawn from the left toward the right, so men's uniforms don't snag the weapon, however, women's uniforms which should take into account the same problem, button opposite of the men's. These women are in the military and need to draw weapons, just like the men, so you would think at least here all shirts would be "uniform" but they are not, even though they put the women at risk of not being able to draw a weapon quickly.

Thanks for the additional information Boniface. You'd think it would have been logical to make the uniforms uniform.

@michellezm

Too logical, it is the military after all.

Very interesting! I'm right handed, and hate battling stubborn left-handed buttons!
Thanks for sharing

I was taught that women button from the left and men from the right because of the Christian restrictions regarding cross dressing. It added an extra layer of difference between male and female clothing.

Having women's shirts button from the left thus made things easier for the mostly right-handed servants who dressed them.

mabe it's because it makes things easier for us fumble fingered right-handed men who undress them...........


heh,heh!!
LOL

I like the idea of having my man-servant dress and undress me! I'll let him know right away that society has buttonholed him into the job.

Another question I always wanted an answer to but was afraid to ask...thanks!