I was in one of those outlet stores the other day. It was a Bealls outlet, a popular retail store in Florida. They pronounce it \u201cBells\u201d \u2013 but not me. I learned to read using phonics, to sound out words, and Bealls isn\u2019t Bells to me. I don\u2019t pronounce meals as mells – or deals as dells. So, though I know it\u2019s not correct, I\u2019m sticking to pronouncing it my way, knowing every time I do, I\u2019ll be corrected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anyhow, on the men\u2019s super-discount rack, which is where old coot\u2019s shop, was a nice-looking, unusual pale yellow, Columbia fishing shirt, in the XL section of the rack. A fifty – or sixty-dollar item marked six bucks. I was going to grab it and run (to the cashier), but decided to try it on, for a change. It didn\u2019t fit; the sleeves came well above my wrists and it felt tight across my shoulders. I quickly slipped it off and returned it to the rack, but I put it in the \u201cmedium\u201d section, thinking it had been mislabeled. Darn! It was such a good buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I mentioned it to my wife, who is a super smart shopper. She asked if the buttons were on the right or left. I didn\u2019t know; I hadn\u2019t tried to \u201cbutton it\u201d \u2013 \u201cWell,\u201d she continued, \u201cIf you did, you might have seen that they were on the \u201cwrong\u201d side, that it probably was a woman\u2019s shirt. Unfortunately, it was a question I couldn\u2019t answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, the bigger question that came to me was, \u201cWhy are the buttons on men\u2019s and women\u2019s clothes on opposite sides. Finding the answer turned into a history lesson. Buttons came into use in the 13th century; they were fancy and expensive, so only wealthy women could afford them. Wealthy women didn\u2019t dress themselves, as you would know if you watched Downtown Abby or The Crown; a lady\u2019s maid dressed them. Since most people are right handed, lady\u2019s maids as well, the buttons were sewn to the left placket, making it easier for them to fasten. And to this day, that\u2019s where they remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buttons on men\u2019s clothes, back then, were mainly found on military uniforms; soldiers dressed themselves, so the buttons were located on the right placket, easiest for right hander\u2019s buttoning from inside the shirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since women, from an early age, generally outshine boys in the dexterity department, it\u2019s never been much of an issue for them that the buttons are on the left side. But, put a man in a woman\u2019s shirt, if you want a chuckle, and watch him struggle with the buttons. (Unless he\u2019s left handed). Lefties have always gotten short shrift from society on mechanical devices. Try to cut paper left-handed with a pair of regular scissors and you\u2019ll understand. Left-handed maids and soldiers were \u201cleft\u201d out in the cold, so to speak, in the 13th century and not much has changed since then. Man! I wanted that shirt!<\/p>\n\n\n\n