I don't know why clothing with zippers isn't accepted as "formal." I
do think it is easier for us ladies though, to do almost completely
without buttons. I've never seen a men's dress shirt without them.

Another thing that baffles me is why most of us here, myself included,
find certain buttons to be disgusting, others slightly gross, and some
are just fine. My best friend, who knows about my hatred of the
things, sometimes looks at me funny when we are shopping and I pick
something up to try on that has buttons on it.

She'll say "I thought you hated buttons?" as if challenging me like
I'm making the whole thing up!! Then I have to explain to her that
only *certain* ones are gross to me, and I end up sounding crazy!