A surprising number of bags spend their entire lives at factory strap length.

You buy one, adjust it approximately once, then carry it in that exact position until the zipper gives up. Which is strange, because where a bag sits can change the outfit almost as much as the bag itself. Tuck it high under the arm and the lower half gets more breathing room. Let it fall to the hip and it can stretch the proportions of a cropped top or jacket. Push it behind you and suddenly the front of the outfit is doing the talking again.

Most bags already give you the hardware to change things up. Might as well use it, right?

Read: JAX: One Collection for Every Kind of Day

Pull It Up on the Shoulder

Shorten the strap and tuck the bag high under your arm.

Wear the bag high on the shoulder, shortening the strap where possible or simply keeping the body tucked close under the arm. With shoulder bags and totes, that can be as simple as hitching the strap up so the bag sits nearer the ribs instead of dropping toward the hip. Keeping it higher leaves more of the lower half visible. It comes into its own when wide pants, long coats, or oversized layers are already doing plenty below.

Hook It at the Elbow

Rest the strap in the crook of your arm.

Slip the strap off the shoulder and let it rest at the elbow, allowing the bag to hang freely instead of being pressed against the torso. Softer shapes tend to benefit most because you can finally see the silhouette properly.

The move comes straight out of classic handbag territory, which makes it slightly more interesting when the bag in question is padded, nylon, or otherwise built with far less ladylike ambitions.

Throw It to the Back

Slide the bag behind your shoulder and let it sit across your back.

Wear the strap crossbody, then rotate the bag behind you until it rests against the back or rear hip. The strap still cuts across the outfit, but the front stays clear for graphics, outerwear, jewelry, or whatever else deserves the attention. It is also one of the easiest positions for walking, cycling, or navigating a crowd without the bag constantly swinging into things.

Let It Sit Low

Lengthen the strap and wear the bag around the hip.

Give the strap more length and let the bag settle around the hip. The lower placement works like a charm with cropped jackets or shorter tops because it adds some vertical distance between the bag and the upper half of the outfit. 

That extra length also gives larger bags space to show their full shape, instead of compressing everything around the ribs.

Carry It by Hand

Use the handle and keep the bag off the shoulder.

If the bag has a handle, may we implore you to occasionally let it do its job. Carrying by hand keeps the torso completely clear, which is useful when a jacket, shirt, or layered outfit already has enough going on across the front.

Apart from getting out of the way of your outfit, it also makes the bag feel a little more dressed.

Clip It on the Outside

Attach a smaller piece to a strap, loop, or outer attachment point.

Clip a smaller bag or case onto the outside of the main one, whether that is a mini pouch or an AirPods case. Quicker access is one advantage, but wait till you see what it does to the bag itself in front of a mirror.

Carabiners and D-rings were made for this sort of thing. The extra piece is basically an accessory for the accessory, which is playful, or what the kids now call whimsical. Our Utility Clip Pouch leans right into that, with its own carabiner making it easy to layer onto a larger bag.

Wear Two at Once

Keep one bag high on the body and let the other sit lower.

Or, the easiest way to wear two bags is to separate them vertically. Keep the smaller one close to the chest or shoulder, then allow the larger bag to sit lower around the waist or hip.

Two bags at once still carries a faint whiff of overpacking, we know, but fashion has rescued weirder ideas. And we’re calling it now—we can see this catching on.

Tuck One Inside the Other

Pack a smaller bag inside a larger one and pull it out when needed.

Yet another direction is to treat the smaller bag like a second setup waiting inside the first. It can stay packed away during the commute, workday, or travel leg, then only come out once you’re down to the essentials and ready to wear it separately. 

Think of it as having two options without having to carry both at once. All you need is somewhere to tuck or stash the bigger bag when it’s no longer needed. It’s a little like moulting, except you get to choose when to shed the extra weight.

Change How You Carry Your Carry 

Celebrities have stylists, costume changes, airport looks and several people whose job appears to involve deciding where a handbag should sit in a photograph. You have a strap adjuster, and at times, a carabiner.

Use what you have. Browse SKINARMA.com. 

Explore the wider SKINARMA carry lineup, or join the SKRM community for 10% off your next purchase and early access to new drops.