One of my favourite daily rituals nowadays is picking what jewelry I am going to wear that day. I used to be somewhat minimal in the past – earrings OR a necklace, maybe an extra ring in addition to my “everyday” wedding band and Trinity ring. Now that I wear jewelry solely for myself and only around the house, I find myself piling it on, more and more. On any given day, I’m wearing earrings AND a necklace, a couple of bracelets, a few extra rings. Do I look like a Christmas tree? Maybe. But I love my jewelry collection, and it brings me joy to see it on my hands, ears, etc.
Most of my collection is secondhand, like the rest of my wardrobe. Thrifting and Poshmark are budget-friendly ways to buy costume jewelry pieces (and even semi-fine jewelry) of good enough quality to last years. By request, I have put together a list of some of my favourite brands, which may be helpful to anyone else looking to add to their collection.
First, a word on terminology. I am not an expert, but I refer to any jewelry that isn’t made from precious or semi-precious materials as “costume jewelry” (also known as “fashion jewelry”). At the low end of that, think of Claire’s and F21. At the high end, I would put Swarovski in this category. Next up is semi-fine jewelry, which is typically gold-filled or gold vermeil, or sterling silver; pieces are often made with semi-precious stones. Lastly, per my totally unscientific categorization methodology, fine jewelry is the really fancy sh*t.
The majority of my collection is costume jewelry, which suits my lifestyle and personal style best. I enjoy bold statement pieces, trendy stuff, and lots of variety; investing in fine jewelry doesn’t make sense for me. That being said, costume jewelry doesn’t have to be cheap junk. I’ve owned some pieces for years and years, and they’re holding up beautifully. Others, like my Rafael Canada collection, are truly timeless works of art (they are made from brass and glass, so I don’t think they qualify as semi-fine jewelry).
I’m going to list my favourites below, but please feel free to add your favourites in the comments.
Rafael Canada
My absolute favourite, these pieces look as fresh and modern today as they did back in the 70s and 80s when they were made. Although technically categorized as “brutalist”, his pieces are incredibly versatile and complement many different styles of clothing.
How to spot: look for “Rafael CANADA” stamp.
Banana Republic
5-10 years ago, their costume jewelry was incredible. I have a few necklaces from that era that are beautiful and still in great condition, apart from some fading on gold-tone pieces. Their style ranges from the very ornate to more minimalist, sleek stuff. My more recent experiences with BR jewelry haven’t been as good; once, I had a brooch break the very first time I wore it. As a result, I stopped buying it for a while so I can’t speak to its current quality. Still, I always have a look at any pieces I find thrifting.
How to spot: look for “BR” tag (usually square).
J. Crew
After BR, this became my go-to. Their jewelry is well-made and typically tends more to the maximalist end of things – think rhinestones on top of rhinestones – but they do make some delicate pieces as well. Again, I haven’t shopped J. Crew very often in recent years, but my impression is that the quality of their jewelry hasn’t changed that much.
How to spot: look for “J. Crew” tag (round, with clear rhinestone on the back).
Stella & Dot
This is currently one of my fave brands for costume jewelry. The company is an MLM, which I typically don’t support, and retail prices are high; that being said, there are a lot of pieces that can be found at consignment, thrift stores, and on Poshmark at much more reasonable prices and the quality is on par with J. Crew and similar brands. Style-wise, it covers the entire spectrum from blingy statement pieces to delicate, minimalist ones. A lot of their pieces are convertible and can be worn in different ways, which is a nice bonus.
How to spot: pieces may be stamped “stella & dot”, or have a round tag with a clear rhinestone. Older pieces sometimes have a different type of tag (see below) or a heart stamp (see below).
Silpada
This is similar to Stella & Dot, although I tend to see less of it at the thrift store. For the pieces I have seen, the style strikes me as more boho and less blingy.
How to spot: look for “KR” stamp or tag.
Lia Sophia
Another company in the same vein as S&D and Silpada, which I believe recently went out of business. The quality isn’t quite as good, but on par with in fashion jewelry you would find at, say, Macy’s or similar department stores.
How to spot: look for “Lia Sophia” stamp. Not sure if they have a tag.
Butler
I think this is a Canadian company, but I am not sure as there does not appear to be a lot of information about it online. The few pieces I have found so far are very good quality – think Kenneth Jay Lane (style and quality). They may or may not be vintage, but definitely have that feel; this isn’t the brand for contemporary trendy pieces.
How to spot: look for “Butler” stamp.
Chico’s
I know what you’re thinking but hear me out. Some Chico’s pieces are definitely on the gaudy side, but not all. If you like more unique boho statement pieces, this might be a brand to keep an eye out for.
How to spot: look for “Chico’s” stamp and/or tag.
Alex & Ani
I love these bracelets for stacking because they’re very lightweight; they give you that charm bracelet “clinking” noise without weighing down your wrist. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like that boho arm-party vibe, these are great. Just don’t pay $20+ for a bracelet at retail; they’re not worth it, IMO. I’ve seen them sold at local consignment stores for about $6-8 a piece, and I’ve thrifted lots of them for $2-3 a piece.
How to spot: look for “Alex & Ani” round tag.
Kendra Scott
We are now moving into “designer” costume jewelry, where retail prices start to reflect the label premium. I like Kendra Scott jewelry because it’s colourful but fairly classic/minimalist at the same time.
How to spot: pieces are usually stamped “Kendra Scott”, but I have smaller pieces that don’t appear to have any markings. She often uses a very distinctive hexagonal shape, which is another way to spot her stuff. But note that this is a brand that does get “duped” a lot, so buyer beware.
House of Harlow
The jewelry is fairly minimalist with a Cali boho twist. Famous for a starburst motif.
How to spot: look for “HH” logo.
Jenny Bird
This is a relatively new-to-me brand; I was introduced to it via FabFitFun. I believe she’s done other collaborations, including with Indigo (Canadian bookstore chain). The quality of the (collab) pieces I have seen so far is on par with Stella & Dot and similar brands. Her regular line may be higher quality.
How to spot: I don’t have extensive experience with this brand, but my FFF bracelet (see above) is stamped “Jenny Bird”.
Alexis Bittar
One of my favourite higher end costume jewelry brands. I typically buy this on deep, deep discount at Nordstrom Rack and similar. Resale prices are quite high, so buying secondhand isn’t necessarily better unless you stumble onto a great score. I love the uniqueness of his designs, and the quality is really excellent.
How to spot: look for “Alexis Bittar” or “AB” stamp; some pieces have tag with stamp.
Swarovski
Not necessarily the most unique or fashion-forward designs, but great classic pieces. The quality is among the best in costume jewelry, IMO. I’ve owned Swarovski pieces for years and have never had issued with tarnishing, fading of gold tone, etc. Many of their pieces, especially rings (see above) and earrings, look like they could be semi-fine or fine jewelry.
How to spot: look for the swan!
You have an amazing jewelry collection! Thanks for sharing. This guide was also quite helpful. How do you store your pieces? I’m interested to know how you keep track of it all and in a way that allows easy access and browsing? Perhaps a future post on your organization process?
I store my pieces in different ways in my closet but the general principle is – you wear what you can see. So as much as possible, I try to store things in a way that still leaves them visible.
I’ve always loved your jewelry, from back when you had the best Lulu Frost necklaces! You’ve since introduced me to Rafael Canada and brutalist jewelry, which I LOVE. I’m always interested to see how you’re mixing in your jewelry (necklaces especially) with what you’re wearing.
I remember those LF pieces. They were good quality too. I ended up selling them though – I guess my taste in jewelry has evolved a bit in the last few years. I think jewelry is an extension of the clothing; some things are classics that work through many style evolutions, some are more trendy and style-specific. It’s another reason why I love costume jewelry.
Just wanted to say thanks again. This is great!!
Glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for the idea!