Skims vs. Swarovski: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Skims is a modern shapewear and loungewear brand focused on comfort, minimalism, and inclusive sizing, while Swarovski is a historic Austrian luxury brand famous for its precision-cut crystal jewelry and glamorous accessories. Skims provides foundational wardrobe pieces designed for everyday wear, whereas Swarovski offers elegant, sparkling items meant to be statement accessories for special occasions.

Let's break down everything you need to know to decide whether you're shopping for modern essentials or classic sparkle.

Skims: The Modern Essentials Brand

Launched by Kim Kardashian in 2019, Skims has rapidly become a go-to for high-quality shapewear, loungewear, and basics. The brand appeals to a wide audience with its focus on body positivity, offering an extensive size range and neutral color palettes designed to create a smooth, comfortable foundation for any outfit.

• Product mix: Core products include seamless shapewear, bralettes, underwear, bodysuits, and cozy loungewear collections.
• Price point: Prices are in the mid-range, typically from $20 for underwear to around $150 for more elaborate loungewear sets. This positions the brand as an accessible luxury for everyday wear.
• Quality & Materials: Utilizes innovative performance fabrics like nylon and spandex blends that are soft, stretchy, and durable. The seamless construction is a key feature, preventing pinching and providing a smooth silhouette.
• Style & Aesthetic: Minimalist, modern, and functional. The aesthetic centers on neutral tones like nudes, browns, black, and whites, making pieces easy to layer and integrate into any wardrobe.
• Sizing/Fit: A major brand strength is its inclusive sizing, which runs from XXS to 5X. Most items are designed to be true to size with plenty of stretch to accommodate different body shapes.
• Sustainability: The brand is making efforts by using eco-friendly packaging and improving its responsible sourcing of materials.

Skims delivers exceptionally comfortable, size-inclusive essentials that feel both functional and fashionable, making it ideal for building a modern foundational wardrobe.

Shop Skims: skims.com

Swarovski: The Leader in Crystal Luxury

Founded in 1895, Swarovski is globally recognized for its brilliant, precision-cut crystal jewelry, watches, and decorative objects. The brand embodies glamour and high-end craftsmanship, offering timeless pieces that add a touch of sparkle and sophistication to any look, from everyday elegance to formal occasions.

• Product mix: Known for an extensive range of jewelry including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, as well as watches, fashion accessories, and crystal home décor.
• Price point: Positioned in the accessible luxury market, prices start around $50 for smaller crystal pieces and can exceed $500 for more intricate designs or collaboration pieces.
• Quality & Materials: The brand's hallmark is its proprietary crystal, cut with precision to maximize light refraction. Jewelry is often finished with rhodium, gold, or silver plating to ensure longevity and a high-end feel.
• Style & Aesthetic: Elegant, glamorous, and often bold. Swarovski’s style is designed to catch the eye, with sparkling crystals taking center stage in both classic and contemporary designs.
• Sizing/Fit: Jewelry comes in standard industry sizes, with many necklaces and bracelets featuring adjustable chains or extenders for a more flexible fit.
• Sustainability: Swarovski has a stated commitment to responsible sourcing of raw materials, implementing eco-design principles, and working to reduce its carbon footprint.

Swarovski is the definitive choice for high-quality, brilliant crystal accessories that bring a sense of luxury and elegance to any occasion.

Shop Swarovski: swarovski.com

Skims vs. Swarovski Comparison

Price Comparison

Skims operates in an accessible price territory, with most of its core items falling between $20 and $150. This pricing strategy makes it feasible for shoppers to purchase multiple items to build their collection of basics. Skims offers functionality and quality for daily wear, making it a strong value proposition for wardrobe essentials.

Swarovski occupies a higher price bracket, with most items ranging from $50 to over $500. A simple pair of crystal studs might be near the lower end, while an elaborate necklace could be several hundred dollars. Swarovski's pricing reflects its brand legacy, craftsmanship, and positioning as a luxury accessory brand suitable for gifting and special occasions.

Quality & Materials

Skims' quality is rooted in its choice of fabrics. The brand heavily uses comfortable, high-performance blends of nylon and spandex that feel soft, provide support, and hold up well to regular washing and wearing. The focus is on tactile comfort and functional durability for clothing that sits next to the skin.

Swarovski’s quality is defined by its materials' visual appeal. Its world-renowned crystals are manufactured for maximum sparkle and clarity, and the metal components are plated with materials like rhodium and gold to resist tarnishing. The emphasis here is on aesthetic excellence and meticulous jewelry craftsmanship.

Style & Aesthetic

The aesthetic difference is stark. Skims is the essence of modern minimalism. Its color palette is intentionally neutral and understated, designed to be discreet under clothing or stylishly simple when worn as loungewear. The brand’s identity is tied to enhancing natural body shapes, not overpowering them.

In contrast, Swarovski is designed to be noticed. Its style is defined by glamour, sparkle, and elegance. Pieces range from delicate and classic for daily sophistication to bold and dramatic for formal events. The brand’s aesthetic is pure adornment, intended to elevate an outfit with light-catching shimmer.

Fit & Sizing

Fit is central to the Skims brand promise. The company has earned a loyal following through its commitment to inclusive sizing, with a standard range of XXS to 5X. Products are designed with significant stretch to adapt to different body types comfortably, backed by detailed size guides and customer reviews.

For Swarovski, fit is more straightforward. Rings are sold in standard sizes, while necklaces and bracelets often include extenders to allow for some adjustability. As an accessory brand, the focus is less on accommodating diverse body measurements and more on creating pieces that are universally wearable.

Shopping Experience

Both brands offer robust e-commerce platforms. Skims presents a clean, user-friendly website that makes it easy to find your correct size and see products on a variety of body types. The direct-to-consumer model is strong, complemented by partnerships with select retailers.

Swarovski's online and in-store presence is designed to feel luxurious. Their website uses high-quality imagery to showcase the sparkle of its products, while its global network of retail boutiques offers a premium, hands-on shopping experience with expert customer service.

Which One Should You Choose?

While these brands cater to very different needs, the right one for you depends entirely on what you're looking to add to your collection.

Choose Skims if:

• You're looking for comfortable, high-quality basics like shapewear, underwear, or loungewear.
• An inclusive size range is a top priority for you.
• You prefer a minimalist, modern aesthetic with a neutral color palette.
• Functionality and everyday comfort are more important to you than flashy statements.

Choose Swarovski if:

• You want to buy elegant, sparkling jewelry or a luxe accessory.
• You're shopping for a special occasion or looking for a memorable gift.
• Your style is glamorous and you appreciate eye-catching, statement details.
• You value brand heritage and traditional craftsmanship in your accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which brand is more expensive, Skims or Swarovski?

Overall, Swarovski is the more expensive brand. While Skims operates in an accessible luxury space with pieces under $150, Swarovski's products start around $50 and can easily go into the many hundreds of dollars for more elaborate jewelry or watches.

What is Skims best known for?

Skims is best known for its size-inclusive, comfortable, and modern shapewear and loungewear. Its ultra-soft fabrics and solutions-oriented designs have become its signature.

Is Swarovski jewelry real diamond?

Swarovski does not use diamonds. The brand is famous for its high-quality, precision-cut crystal glass, which is created in-house to achieve exceptional brilliance and sparkle that mimics the look of fine gemstones.

Does Skims sizing run true to size?

Yes, Skims products are generally considered true to size. Thanks to their stretchy fabric compositions, there is some flexibility. The brand also provides detailed size charts and model photos to help customers find their perfect fit.

Which brand is better for everyday wear?

Skims is unequivocally better for everyday wear. Its entire product line is built around providing comfort, function, and style for daily life, from undergarments to lounge apparel.

Which brand makes a better gift?

For a traditional special occasion gift like a birthday, anniversary, or holiday, Swarovski is a more classic choice. Its recognizable blue box and sparkling jewelry are synonymous with gifting. Skims could be a great gift for someone whose style and sizing you know very well.

Are both brands considered sustainable?

Both brands are making efforts toward sustainability, but it's not the primary focus of either. Skims uses eco-friendly packaging, while Swarovski has a longer-term program focused on responsible sourcing and eco-design. Shoppers focused heavily on sustainability may need to do further research on both brands.

Is Swarovski jewelry good quality?

Yes, Swarovski jewelry is considered high-quality for the accessible luxury market. Their crystals are renowned for their brilliance, and the metal platings are durable, making them an excellent choice for fashionable costume jewelry that lasts.