Ask Karen: How long should my crossbody strap be?

A new series: your questions, Karen's answers.

Every week, people email us, DM us, and stop by the studio to ask Karen the same handful of questions. So once a month, she's going to pick one and answer it properly, the way she would if you were standing in the Hewlett studio with her.

We're starting with the one we hear more than any other.

"How long should my crossbody strap be?"

Hi, it's Karen.

After thirty years of designing handbags, I can tell you that strap length is the thing people get wrong most often, and it's the easiest thing to fix. A crossbody that's adjusted right disappears on you. One that's off by a couple of inches will nag at you all day, and you won't know why.

Here's my rule.

The bag should sit at your hip bone.

Not at your waist. Not down by your thigh. When the strap is right, the top of the bag lands at the top of your hip bone, roughly where your wrist falls when your arm hangs relaxed at your side.

That one spot does three things at once. It keeps the weight close to your center, so your shoulder doesn't ache. It puts the zipper or flap exactly where your hand naturally lands, so you're never hunting for it. And it's the most flattering line on almost every body, because it follows the hip instead of cutting across the middle of you.

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The ten-second test.

Put the bag on the way you normally wear it. Let your arm hang loose. Now, without looking, reach for the bag.

If your hand lands on top of it, you're set.

If your hand lands on the strap and you have to reach down for the bag, it's too long. Shorten it a notch.

If the bag is bumping your elbow or riding up under your arm, it's too short. Let it out a notch.

That's it. No tape measure.

A few things that change the answer.

Your height. If you're petite, you'll almost always need to shorten the strap from wherever it arrives. If you're tall, don't be afraid to use the last hole.

Your coat. The same bag needs about an inch more strap over a winter coat than over a T-shirt. Adjust it in November and again in April. I actually do this.

How you wear it. Crossbody and on-the-shoulder are two different lengths. If you switch between them, set the strap for the one you do most, or find the middle notch you can live with for both.

What's in it. A heavy bag should sit a touch higher than a light one. Weight hanging low on the hip pulls at the shoulder.

My personal preference.

I wear mine a little higher than most people expect, right at the hip bone, sometimes slightly above. It looks intentional, it stays out of the way when I'm walking fast, and I never have to think about it. If you've been wearing yours low because that's how it came out of the box, try moving it up two holes for a day. Most people don't go back.

One more thing.

If your strap doesn't have a hole where you need one, don't settle for close enough. Bring the bag to your local shoemaker and have theml add one for you. It takes two minutes, and it changes how the bag feels for years.  Shop Bolsa Nova's Crossbody Bags.

Until next time, Karen