Quick Answer: Fashion jewelry, also called costume jewelry, is made to complement an outfit. Fine jewelry is the kind Wikipedia says may be regarded as a collectible, keepsake or investment. Fashion pieces often use plated metal, crystals, semi-precious stones, plastic or wood. Akitai's earrings and stretch bracelets are fashion jewelry, and this guide does not describe them as fine jewelry.
The two terms get mixed up because both mean jewelry you wear, but they describe different purposes. This guide covers what fashion jewelry is, how it differs from fine jewelry, what it is made of and how to wear and store it. The examples come from Akitai's boho teardrop earrings and charm bracelets, and since Akitai is the brand behind this site, those are our own products. For the wider style they sit in, see the post on what boho fashion is.
It is jewelry made to go with what you are wearing. Wikipedia (checked October 2026) describes costume or fashion jewelry as decorative items worn for personal adornment that are made to complement a particular fashionable outfit or garment, as opposed to "real" (fine) jewelry.
Costume jewelry and fashion jewelry are the same thing. Wikipedia lists several other names for it and says the term costume jewelry dates to the early 20th century, when "costume" was the word for what is now called an outfit. So if you are asking what costume jewelry is, the answer is the same as for fashion jewelry.
The difference starts with purpose. Wikipedia says fine jewelry may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes or investments. Fashion jewelry is meant to be worn with the clothes of the day, and often changed with them.
Materials follow from that. Wikipedia says modern costume jewelry uses high-end crystals, cubic zirconia and some semi-precious stones in place of precious stones. The point is not that one kind is better. A keepsake and an outfit piece are bought for different reasons, so it helps to know which one a listing is describing.
A wide range of materials, according to the same Wikipedia article. The table sets its list beside what Akitai's own product pages mention.
| Material group | Wikipedia lists | Akitai's pages mention |
|---|---|---|
| Stones | Crystals, cubic zirconia, semi-precious stones | Beads and stones; gemstone beads |
| Metals | Gold- or silver-plated brass; sometimes vermeil or sterling silver | Gold and/or silver plated earrings; silver plated brass beads |
| Other | Plastic, acrylic, leather, wood | Not compared here |
Wikipedia's list is general and does not describe any one brand. On plating, the FTC's Jewelry Guides use "gold plated" for a product that is surface-plated with gold alloy rather than made of gold throughout (16 CFR 23.3, checked October 2026).
Wear it the way it was designed: as part of the outfit. A bold pair of earrings suits a plain top, and a quiet pair suits a busy one. Because fashion jewelry is built around changing looks, a small collection that mixes colors gives you more outfits than one pair worn every day.
For storage, Akitai's Warranty page gives the basics. Keep jewelry dry and away from perfume, lotion and cleaning agents, store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, and use a pouch or a soft cloth so pieces do not scratch each other.
Yes. Akitai's gold boho teardrop earrings are one example. The product page describes beads and stones on a teardrop frame that is gold and silver plated, made by hand in Thailand. The amazonite howlite bracelet set is another. Its page describes amazonite and howlite stones in teal, pale green and white, with silver plated brass beads and a small elephant charm, strung as stretch bracelets.
Both are outfit pieces. This guide does not describe them as fine jewelry, and it makes no claim about the plating beyond the wording on the pages.
When you want to change a look, try a color or give a gift to someone with a clear style. A gift works best when the piece matches how the person already dresses. The guide to Christmas jewelry gifts covers how to choose between earrings and a bracelet for someone else.
It is jewelry made to complement an outfit, as opposed to fine jewelry, which Wikipedia says may be regarded as a collectible, keepsake or investment.
There is none. Wikipedia says costume jewelry is also known as fashion jewelry.
It is another name for fashion jewelry. The term dates to the early 20th century, when "costume" meant what we now call an outfit.
Wikipedia lists crystals, cubic zirconia, semi-precious stones, plated metal, plastic, acrylic, leather and wood, and says some pieces use vermeil or sterling silver.
Yes, it is jewelry made to be worn. Wikipedia puts "real" in quotation marks for fine jewelry, which is judged more as a keepsake or investment.
Keep it dry and away from perfume, lotion and cleaners, in a cool, dry place out of direct sun, using a pouch or soft cloth. That is the care Akitai's Warranty page gives for its own pieces.
Yes. Its earrings and stretch bracelets are outfit pieces, described on its product pages as plated earrings and gemstone bead bracelets.
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