Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: The buttons on your shirt

Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.

Personally, I don’t wear women’s clothing.  But there was that one time for Halloween, long before it was a political issue, I dressed as a woman. I won best costume in fourth grade. By the way, there were no protests, no issues. I got an extra large piece of candy from Mrs. Schmidt and that was that. I realize times change.

But on that day I noticed something I never would have known in a million years.  Guys, did you know women’s blouses have buttons on the opposite side? A guys shirt has the buttons are on the right. But on women’s clothing the buttons are on the left. And if a guy tried to put on a woman’s blouse, he’ll often start fumbling, lacking the dexterity to button up.

Women are saying “duh,” they know this, but if not for Halloween I would have never known. And ever since they’ve invented buttons, there’s been a raging debate among historians, why women’s buttons are on the left.  Men on the right.

One theory.  At the beginning dresses were so expensive, the kind of women who wore them had lady maids to help them dress.  Most maids were right handed.

Another theory.  Men wore their swords on the left.  If your shirt was buttoned right over left… the sword could catch on a gap in the shirt.  Sounds ridiculous… but who wants to cut gashes in a snappy new button down shirt.  Not me.  Nor your ancestors.  

So 900 years later… go ahead guys… test it out.  Ask to put on your wife’s blouse and after you’re done explaining yourself… see if you can do it.  Betcha you’ll say Jeff was right.  You can’t deal with buttons on the left.

Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook and X. 

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