From The Catalog Of Five Million Useless Trivia Facts In My Head

In case you've ever wondered: The reason women's shirts button opposite of men's is because these clothing items were designed during a time when women often needed help to get dressed, whereas men dressed themselves. Women's corsets were so difficult to put on that they needed help from a maid to get them on. It was assumed by tailors that a righthanded person would prefer to push the button through the hole with their right hand. Men's shirts, designed for them to button up themselves, have the button on the right and the loop on the left. Women's blouses and gowns, which a maid would button up, have the buttons and loops on opposite sides for the convenience and efficiency of the maid. See, look:



This is a bridal pic, but it illustrates the process. Many brides still need help into their clothes because their dresses button up the back, and they often wear restricting corsets that prevent them from bending their arms around and fastening the buttons themselves. Before zippers were invented, maids had to do this every day. I feel so sad for Hill from Pride and Prejudice! (Incidentally, since Hill was called by her last name and not her Christian name, we know she was a lady's maid instead of, say, a scullery maid. It was higher up on the service food chain and deserving of the added respect of using her last name. She was still a servant, though, so she didn't get an honorary like Mrs.) Hill had to dress Mrs. Bennett, and maybe all of their five daughters as well. All. Those. Buttons.

Meanwhile, men's clothes were being made with all the closures in the front, so the men could fasten everything up themselves and ask their valet for help with the cufflinks.

He's the only Mr. Darcy I will acknowledge. This pic doesn't show the closures of his clothes very well, it's just gratuitous.

So...now you know.