andrew markworthy
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 1999
- Messages
- 4,762
The buttons thing - actually, it's to do with servants rather than slaves. A rich man was expected to do up his own buttons, but a rich woman had a maidservant to this for her. Tailors thus placed buttons on the side which was better for the (right handed) person expected to fasten them. Poorer people without servants copied the fashions of the rich, and women put up with something that was clearly impractical in order to look fashionable (not that that has ever happened since ...).
Incidentally, buttons are an invention of the early middle ages. Any historical drama showing e.g. Ancient Romans with buttons on their clothes is historically inaccurate.
Incidentally, buttons are an invention of the early middle ages. Any historical drama showing e.g. Ancient Romans with buttons on their clothes is historically inaccurate.