re:zippers being on the opposite side?
like on jackets? the flange and the doo-hickey are reversed?
placket is the most common term for the opening for a zipper --Jeans and men's trousers/pants all have plackets, some times jackets have 'exposed zippers' (ie, no placket) and yes both plackets and buttonholes are reversed for woman/mens clothing.
inside the placket, on better mens and womens clothes, there is somtimes a placket lining. (Jeans definately don't have these!)
zippers are relatively new technology for closing clothes, and designers were hired by manufacterors to design the best way to install zippers.
as zippers have changed and improved, plackets have become smaller (in general) and newer zippers are invisible--they are designed to hide in the seam when closed.
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i too have alwasy heard womans clothing was reversed because women had 'dressers'--which might well be true, since pre industrial age, buttons were expensive and generally only decorated expensive clothing. most woman wore clothing that closed with laces. (see the discussion about aglets.. )
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buttons were so expensive that several religious groups frowned on there use, today only the Amish still generally avoid them.
the purtians, as part of their philosophy of simple plain living, (somber colors, little or no frivious activites allowed, etc) also frowned on buttons.. they used belts and buckles to fasten clothing. (and are still characterized by even wearing hats with buckles as trim)
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i don't know much about 'pearly kings and queens' but i suspect they were poor people who collected (and stole!) pearl buttons and used them to decorate clothing --until they went overboard, and had buttons every where!--but since buttons were displays of wealth--they elevated the status of the pearly kings/queens.
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military uniforms always had buttons, (very large ones often) usually made from brass (again this was a display of wealth)
Napolian was the first to insist that buttons and braid also be used on cuffs of uniforms..(to discourage the men from wiping their noses on their sleeves..)
