Fashion rules are becoming more fluid these days – what was once specific to men or women is now up for grabs. But there’s one small detail that still sets men’s and women’s clothing apart, and some historians suggest it’s a centuries-old tradition that’s deeply rooted in gender inequality.

The next time you button up your shirt, take a quick look at where the buttons fall on the placket – the reinforced strip of fabric where the button meets the buttonhole. Continues…