How to Choose the Right Length for Your New Necklace

Women’s necklaces are an essential accessory for any ensemble. But every individual outfit requires its own individual jewelry look. That’s a lot of individual looks! Which makes any time a good time for new necklace shopping.

Fortunately, and sometimes unfortunately depending on one’s decision-making ability, there are so many choices out there when it comes to women’s necklaces. Different styles. Different themes. Different chains. This might be a great topic for a future blog. But in this blog, we want to discuss one specific aspect of necklaces: length.

Did you know that the length of your necklace could dramatically change your entire look? It’s true. Today we would like to share a few bits of information on the different lengths available in today’s jewelry marketplace and how to best design your desired look based on those lengths. Having a little bit of extra fashion knowledge lets you take control when shopping for a new necklace and makes the entire experience just a little more fun.

Which Length Is Right for You?

You can find a lot of discussion about necklace lengths on the internet. Some of it can even be contradictory. For that reason, we say this: a good-looking necklace design ALWAYS creates a good look, regardless of length. There does seem to be a few general principles that can be applied to necklace lengths, however, and we thought it would be nice to share those. But most importantly, we always believe that the wearer is always the authority on their own personal style.

14- to 16-Inch Necklaces (36-41 cm) – Necklaces that fit tight to the neck and right between the collarbones are considered Chokers. One of the most famous fashion icons of all time, Princess Diana, made Chokers extremely popular, but they never truly go out of style. They are ideal for casual wear with defined collars: V-necks, scoop-necks and off-the-shoulder shirts and blouses.

18-Inch Necklaces (46 cm) – Probably the most popular necklace length in today’s jewelry marketplace is 18 inches, often called Princess style, and it is the most ideal length for showing off pendants. When connected to a Princess-length necklace, pendants are likely to rest closely to one’s heart. It is quite a versatile length as well, as it would go with most ensembles.

20- to 24-Inch Necklaces (51-61 cm) – Matinee style necklaces generally fall between the collarbone and the top of the bust. While they can be worn with casual wear, this length is a good choice for semi-formal attire, for example, wearing it to business dinners and parties. They are typically worn without pendants and have enough length to make a natural vertical line, which can also create a slimming effect.

30-Inch Necklaces (76 cm) – While this length is referred to as Opera style, it’s a bit of a misnomer as you don’t have to wear them to an event as formal as the opera. These necklaces rest on the bust or an inch or two below, and while it is a great complement for formal occasion wear and evening gowns, they are also great when you’re out on the town for a fun night. They would also make a good match for bulky sweaters and casual tops with very high necklines.

35-Inch and up Necklaces (89 cm and up) – The lengthiest style is called a Rope necklace and can reach as far down as the middle of the torso. They offer their own kind of versatility because they can usually be knotted (depending on the type of necklace) and doubled and tripled up to create a unique layered look that’s extremely elegant.

Thanks for reading. We hope today’s blog has been enlightening. We know there are plenty of necklaces out there to select from, but as you can tell, size could matter. And the length of a beautiful necklace can make a big difference when you are deciding what to wear. Have fun shopping!