The forgotten utility: vintage button hook and shoe fastener 👞
A vintage button hook and shoe fastener is an old-fashioned dressing aid that helped people put on and fasten shoes or clothing with small buttons.
What was it?
The tool typically had a small metal hook on one end. You would insert the hook through the loop of a button and pull it over the button to fasten it.
Some versions were designed specifically for button-up shoes, while others were combined with a shoehorn or shoe fastener. They were particularly useful when footwear had many tiny buttons, which could be difficult to manipulate by hand.
Why were they common?
Buttoned boots and shoes were fashionable in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A button hook made fastening them considerably quicker and easier.
They could be made from materials such as:
Steel or other metals
Wood
Bone or ivory in older/high-end examples
Celluloid and other early plastics
Decorative materials for luxury versions
Some were beautifully decorated and carried in a pocket, handbag, or dressing set, so an object that looks like a strange little metal hook today could actually be an everyday personal accessory.
How did you use one?
For a buttoned shoe, you would:
Insert the hook through the buttonhole.
Catch the button with the hook.
Pull the button through the hole.
Repeat for each button.
The same basic principle is still useful today for people who have difficulty manipulating small buttons.
If you found one in an old drawer
It may look like a tiny metal hook, wire loop, or slender handle with a hook at the end. If yours looks different, send me a photo and I can help identify the exact type, approximate age, and possible value.
