Choosing the Right Necklace Chain Length

Choosing the right necklace chain length determines the way your jewelry will frame your face and complement your body type. The length of your necklace chain really depends on your preference, but here are some general suggestions to help you decide where your necklace should fall.

Selecting the Right Necklace for the Body 
To make the most of your look, consider how different lengths of necklace chains would look on your body. The features to most consider when selecting a length are your neck, height, body type, and face shape.

Neck: Since necks vary in size, a standard choker might be too large or small for your actual neck. Therefore it’s very important to measure your neck before purchasing a collar or choker necklace. Do this by using soft measuring tape. Once wrapped around your neck, the tape should be tight but not suffocating. After you know your neck measurement, a general rule to follow when buying a choker is to select a necklace size one size up from your measurement. 

Height: While a long necklace might overpower a petite frame, too short of a necklace might look strange and out of place on a taller person. Here are recommended necklace lengths based on height:
          •Below 5’4”: 16-20 inch necklace lengths
          • 5’4” to 5’7”: Necklaces of any lengths
          • 5’7” and above: Able to wear necklaces of any length, but longer styles will accentuate your frame and look best

Miriam Haskell Gold Necklace Chain Leaf

Body type: Different necklace lengths can accentuate or minimize certain body features. If you’d like to accentuate the bust, a necklace chain around 20-22 inches is best, such as our Miriam Haskell Gold Necklace Chain Leaf. If you’re flat chested, long, thin chains will look best on your frame. Full-figured frames should stay away from necklaces sitting on or below the breast line, because this length won’t hang properly on this body type. Necklaces that sit slightly higher on the body are better options for this body type.


Face shape: Necklaces can affect how wide, narrow, angular, or round your face looks, so it’s important to choose carefully and control the way your face will be perceived by others. Here are some general guidelines:
          • Heart-shaped faces should wear necklaces from 10 to 16 inches, as these will subdue the sharp angle of the chin.

Kanupriya Necklace

          • Round faces should wear necklaces ranging from 26 to 36 inches, like our colorful Kanupriya Necklace, because these will lengthen the jawline. Choker necklaces should be avoided, because they will add on to the roundness of the face.

          • Rectangular and oblong faces should wear choker necklaces, because they’ll shorten the jaw and smooth the face’s angles.

Erickson Beamon White Wedding Necklace

          • Oval shaped faces are lucky, because generally, any length necklace complements their face. One of our favorites to try would be our Erickson Beamon White Wedding Necklace, which is a real eye catcher.

For more necklaces and other edgy designer jewelry, visit SWAG at our NorthPark Jewelry store or check out our online jewelry store.