How I shorten my Chanel bag chain strap

June 19, 2020

The ideal drop length to wear a bag crossbody is anything between 18-21 inches. This is my personal preference because of my height, which is 5ft3. Anything longer than that would be too long on my petite frame. If you have a bag you love but the drop length is too long, keep reading!

Here are 2 methods on how I shorten the chain strap on my Chanel bag.

Side note: This vintage Chanel bag I purchased recently has a strap of 23 inches drop. Although this size is known to be worn as a shoulder bag (when you double up the strap), I still prefer to wear it as a crossbody or on the shoulder but with the bag on my waist. 23 inches means the bag sits very low on me, around my thighs. And it’s not comfortable walking around with the bag hitting my legs like that. So I use these 2 methods to help shorten the length of the bag to bring it up to my waist.

Use matching metal buckle(s)

This method requires a little buckle that connects two links on the strap together and shortens it. The pros of this method are the shortened strap is more secure, and it stays in place. The cons are it’s harder to assemble and you need a small screw driver to adjust or remove the buckle.

I found this pack of 4 buckles on Amazon for right under $10. It comes in a pack of 2 gold and 2 silver buckles. A little screw driver is included to help you unscrew the buckle easily.

Use a string or a small scarf

This method is an easy way to shorten your strap with a sturdy string you can find, like a shoelace, or a scarf. The pros of this method are it’s easy and quick with a string, and you don’t need any extra tool or hardware. The cons are that the string may become loose while you’re wearing the bag and the strap can also slide around which could make it uncomfortable.

Anyways, those are 2 methods I use to shorten any chain strap, not just Chanel (as long as it’s a chain strap with links). If I know I will be walking around a lot, and need the strap more secure, I use the metal buckle. If I’m already out and about and don’t have the screw driver and the little buckle on me, I can use a scarf or a string to tie the strap together.