buttoning up

[riccardking]

why do men's clothes have buttons on the right and women's have them on the left?

[SpudGun]

Riccardking

I bet there's a medieval answer in here somewhere> So you can get easier access to your sword which will be on your left hand side using your right hand without having to fiddle with your clothing. Maybe...

SpudGun

[Mr Veritas]

It's quite simple once you know.
In the olden days Ladies had maids to button them up,hence the side Ladies do theirs up on.
The Guys(poor things) had to button themselves up, hence the side they do theirs up on.

[R1Geezer]

There is also the sword consideration. A sword was usually on the left and people where usually right handed, even the left handed ones! So if a shirt button right over left the holes between the buttons could catch the sword handle when it was draw, not good! So they button left over right. Ladies button the other way because they where often dressed by someone else.

[tustain]

Mr veritas is totally correct I am afraid.