It is an interesting explanation—but historians don’t consider it a proven single origin for the tradition.
Why Men’s Buttons Are on the Right
There are also several theories about men’s clothing.
One explanation connects right-side buttons with the way men historically carried weapons.
For centuries, many men carried swords, knives, or other equipment on their bodies. Having clothing fasten on the right side may have made certain garments easier to open with the dominant hand.
Another theory suggests that men’s clothing was designed with practical activities in mind, including riding and military use.
However, just like the explanation for women’s clothing, there isn’t one universally accepted historical reason that definitively explains why men’s buttons ended up on the right.
Fashion Has a Long Memory
Once a convention becomes established, it can be surprisingly difficult to change.
Tailors, clothing manufacturers, and consumers become accustomed to a particular arrangement. Eventually, the difference becomes part of the visual language of men’s and women’s clothing.
Modern clothing doesn’t necessarily require buttons to be placed on opposite sides.
Yet manufacturers continue to follow the tradition because customers expect it.
In other words, the button placement has survived partly because fashion traditions tend to reproduce themselves.
