What are Vanity Buttons?

Vanity buttons are also sometimes called signature buttons or designer buttons. They are patterned with a name, initial or logo, which belongs to an individual, company, event, personality or store.
Vanity buttons started in the 1970s. At first they were used on expensive men's clothing, but before too long were being used on women's and children's clothes.

Collections of vanity buttons can be sorted into six categories, according to Pat Olsen in her NBS Bulletin article:

1. Designer buttons
2. Clothing manufacturers
3. Well-known personalities
4. Clothing brands
5. Stores selling clothing with their own identification
6. Stores selling clothing not of their own brand

Vanity buttons can be marked on the front, back or not-at-all. You can find them in plastic, metal or shell--with 2-holes or 4-holes (Rarely shanks).
Vanity buttons may become scarce in the future! One reason is because clothing is so often just thrown away. In addition, fashion's star designers are aging and dying.

Hunting for these buttons made for a fun Scavenger Hunt for several members of the Hernando County Button Collectors Group in Florida recently. A Goodwill Super Store was our hunting ground!

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