Why are buttons and zippers on different sides of men’s and women’s clothes? |
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Why are zippers on different sides of male and female jackets? – Agrima, age 13, Delhi, India
Why are zippers on different sides of male and female jackets? – Agrima, age 13, Delhi, India
Imagine you’re at a clothing store that stocks items for the whole family. You pick up a white buttoned shirt to try on. The style is pretty plain. Was it designed to be worn by a woman or man?
There may be a clue: Many women’s shirts have buttons on the left side, while men’s shirts usually button on the right. Even zippers in pants and jackets sometimes follow the same pattern.
But why does clothing fasten differently depending on whether it’s made for men or women? Fashion researchers and historians like us have wondered about this gender difference. The answer has a lot to do with tradition, history and the way clothes were made long ago. Even small details, like a zipper, can tell a story about the past.
Clothing is full of hidden history
When people look at........