When buttons were introduced in the 13th century, they were extremely expensive, and only upper-class women could afford to wear clothing with buttons. The positioning of buttons on the right for men and on the left for women reflected not only design functionality but also societal gender and class distinctions.
In the 13th century, common women fastened their clothes with fabric ties or wooden clasps, whereas middle and upper-class women frequently wore elaborate outfits fastened with expensive buttons made of gold, silver, pearls, gemstones, and ivory — a trend that laid the groundwork for the future distinction between haute couture and casual fashion.
At the time, wealthy women wore buttoned-up garments, but they did not dress themselves; their servants did. Because most individuals were right-handed, the buttons had to be on the left so that the person standing opposite could easily fasten them. The positioning of buttons on the left for women’s attire was a subtle indicator of the family’s affluence, which was typical of the upper class.
CONTINUE READING ON THE NEXT PAGE
Advertisement:
Discover the Astonishing Beauty Benefits of Vaseline and Lemon
Savory Baked Spaghetti with Homemade Meatballs
Smoked Ham, Potato, and Corn Chowder
Taylor Swift Loses $125 Million in Brand Deals Following Major Endorsement Decision
The Ultimate Easy Meatloaf Recipe: Delicious, Simple, and Family-Friendly
Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese Burger Wrap
Why should you put a glass of water on your bedside table?
We Ordered a Salad, But There Were Tiny Black Specks in the Food
Just Mix Oil in Coffee and You No Longer Need to Spend Money at the Market
