Choosing a necklace length is perhaps not as fraught as ring size, but it can still be a little “Uh… I don’t know… THIS one.” I mean, it is pretty hard to order it so “wrong” that you can’t wear a necklace at all, but there are ways to do it better.

16”, 18”, 22”, 30” and 36” necklaces on 5’9” me.

What should you think about when you are staring at the little dropdown with 16”, 18”, 20”, 24”, and 36” in it?

Firstly, any poppycock about specific necklace styles/lengths being certain body types should be roundly ignored. Smaller people can wear long necklaces, larger people can wear dainty necklaces, etc. Anyone saying anything else is spewing garbage.

Now that is out of the way… Preferences and comfort and lifestyle.

You hear me say this a lot, and I am going to repeat it here:

The number 1 thing that matters is what you like on you

14”, 16”, 18” and 20” Necklaces on 5’9” me. Notice how the 14” touches my neck. Yucky.

Not what is in style, not what the model is wearing, not what some magazine says is the thing for the season. What do you like? Most regular jewelry wearers have a favorite length necklace length. Whatever necklace you wear the most - Its length is almost certainly part of the reason you wear it often (conversely, the reason you might have one you love but rarely wear - just not the right length). Most of mine are between 16” and 18”. But I have one or two longer ones for layering and because I like them (I rarely wear them, because see above). So measure that favorite. Consider that your goto length.

Next: Comfort!

It doesn’t matter how “in” chokers are; if you hate having something touch your neck, chokers are not for you.

Hi. My name is Joanne, and I hate things touching my neck…ahem...

True chokers touch your neck, long necklaces swing around and get caught on things, 20”-24” tend to get caught in shirt collars and disappear… You might not care, or it might drive you crazy. Think about this when choosing how many inches from that dropdown. If you buy a length that’s uncomfortable for you, you won’t wear it no matter how much you “love it”. Trust me, I have many chokers that never see the light of day.

Finally: What kind of lifestyle do you live?

Being slightly dramatic in one of my favorite necklaces for everyday - 16” dainty circle necklace.

Are you a desk dweller? Pretty much whatever goes then in terms of necklace length working with your day. Almost any other job -- Work in retail, UPS driver, Yoga teacher, Parent to a small child... Long necklaces will get in the way. That is just the way it is I am afraid. Do you love them? Well, then get one! You just might not get to wear it every day.

A 16” - 20” inch necklace works great for most lifestyles - short enough to stay out of the way, long enough to hold a pendant or wear alone.

One last thing to note is that the necklace’s length can change its look and impact. A simple long chain necklace (say opera length at 36”) can sort of disappear even if it is quite chunky. That same chain at 16” (a chokerish size) can make quite an impact.