A necklace at exactly the right length for the neckline you are wearing makes all the difference. It instantly looks more professional and more polished and looks like you planned the whole thing. But what if you didn’t or what if your plans didn’t work when you got it all together. Here’s an easy way to fix it. more.

To shorten a necklace that is made of chain or beads, try a big safety pin. For a chain necklace, pull both sides up to where you want the pendant to sit, and then put the pointy part through the link of chain on each side and close the safety pin. Remember that the pin itself is an inch long so you will have to take that into account. And yes, your necklace will droop down your back so this is a good solution for something you are wearing under a shirt or jacket and not so good a solution for a tank top or open back. When I am doing this, once I figure out the length, I bring the chain links I want to use around to the front so I can see what I am doing with the safety pin.

For a bead necklace, the pin won’t go through the links but the closed pin will sit in between the beads. Once you figure out how long you want it, slide the beads around to the front so you can see them. Work the end of the pin in between the beads on one side and then make a bit of space in between the beads on the other side to close the pin. It’s a bit trickier than the chain option but does work well as long as the beads, pearls, or necklace parts are big enough so they don’t slide through the closed pin.

Lengthening a necklace is tougher. You could do the saftety pin trick if you need it lengthened just that much. But better if you have a short chain with a clasp at one end. The Anylength chains also work. You need to get something long enough though to lengthen it the amount you need. Put the clasp of the extending chain into the end of the necklace. So instead of the necklace’s clasp, use the chain’s clasp. Now hold the necklace up and figure out where it should fall. Fasten the necklace’s clasp into the appropriate link on the extending chain and there you go.

Again, this may leave some piece of the extending chain drooping down your back. When I have done this for suits where I wanted to lengthen the necklace so it hung properly I have used a chain that has a finished end, like a little ball or pearl or something. I did this on the Anylength chains so it would look nice when it hangs down.