Symbol of Status and Femininity
Having someone help you dress was once a clear sign of wealth and privilege. Only upper-class women could afford such luxury. Therefore, left-sided buttons quietly became a symbol of status.
During the Victorian era, this design choice also reflected cultural ideas of femininity and women were seen as graceful, refined, and dependent. The left-sided buttons reinforced this image, distinguishing their fashion from the more “practical” men’s clothing.
The Men’s Side: Function Over Fashion
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