How to Measure the Drop Length. This measurement is taken from the top of the purse at the lowest point to the inside of the handles or shoulder strap held above the purse. You will start your measurement from the center top of the purse and measure straight up to the inside peak of the handles or shoulder strap.
The handle drop refers to the distance between the tip of the handle strap to the top edge of the bag. With the handle drop measurement, you can ascertain if the top handle may be carried through your lower arm and/or over your wrist.
For reference, we measure the drop length from the top of the handle to the top of the tote. Just remember to hold your ruler or measuring tape perpendicular to the top edge of the bag when you measure. And note that we don't stretch the handles of our totes when we measure the handle length.
The strap length is measured from one end to the other, including the attachable hooks/hardware. Please note that "strap length" is different from "drop length" which measures the distance from the top of the strap to the top of the bag, when being worn.
Drop length relates to the length of the shoulder strap on a handbag. Specifically, it is the distance from the top of the folded shoulder strap to the top of the bag as shown in this photo.
Short Handle (12 to 20-inch range) Shoulder (30-inch range) Long Shoulder (40-inch range) Crossbody (50-inch range)
To measure the height of the handbag, you need to take the measuring tape and right from the base to the top of the handbag, hold the tape straight somewhere in the middle portion of the handbag or tote bag or your shoulder bag. Remember to exclude the handles or straps of your bag.
One way to measure strap length is called Strap Drop. It's the vertical distance between the bag opening and the top of your shoulder (where the strap would sit), and it's a really helpful measurement for shoulder bags and totes.
Most Common Handle / Strap Length of Tote Bags
The standard and most common straps that create an ease of use are around 20”-22” in length with a 9”-1” drop.
A strap length that's too short or long can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and even have an unflattering effect on the body. Ideally, your crossbody bag should hit just above the hip.
Some stylists recommend an 18-inch drop for women 5' 2" and shorter. Depending on how you'd want your bag to fall on your hips, a drop of about 20 inches matches well with women up to 5' 6." For women 5' 8" or taller, a drop of 22 inches or more might be more apt.
So a medium-sized bag with the capacity of 35-50 litres (22 inches height, 15 inches width, and 9.5 inches depth) is ideal.
Drop bags are used at aid stations when you don't have a crew, and the bags are transported by the race organizer. These bags allow you to access your own special fuel and hydration that races don't provide, as well as extra gear you might need later in a race.
Satchel purse
A satchel is a medium to large, structured handbag with a wide, flat bottom (that allows it to stand upright) and double top handles for carrying. Satchels come in a variety of shapes but typically have flap tops with buckles or clasp closures.
Handle is probably the best word choice. Strap is also good. Strip and string do not fit. The material the handle is made of is best called decorative cord, or maybe decorative rope.
Standard handles (Around 20"-22" length, 9"-11" drop): This option is the most common amongst totes due to the ease of use. The handles are long enough to be propped over a shoulder and fits snuggly.
Measure the depth of the handbag by placing the tape measure or ruler inside the handbag and measuring from the front to the back. Alternatively, simply measure from the outside back edge to the front edge. Finally, measure the distance from the highest point of the strap(s)/handle(s) to the opening of the bag.
What sets the drop shoulder shirt apart is how low the shoulder seam sits on the arm. There is no vertical seam where regular cut sleeves would meet the body. A drop shoulder seam sits horizontally on the upper arm instead. This elongates the shoulder and makes the armhole very wide and loose.
Crossbody bags are typically smaller in size compared to other types of purses. This size makes them perfect for carrying essentials like a phone, wallet, and keys, while keeping them all easily accessible. Another key feature of crossbody bags is the strap.
My advice when exploring the drop shoulder construction is to avoid full hourglass shaping, and start with average and longer lengths. Drop shoulder garments are meant to be oversized and not especially body-conscious, and short fitted torsos look odd with those big shoulders.
We recommend measuring the length of where you want to wear the bag, then minus 8" (or length of the bag) to make sure this measurement will fit in between 15-30". If you want a shorter strap that is wider for comfort, take a look at our Jacquard Short Strap.
Taking Measurements
Measure the length, height, and depth of your bag, including handles and wheels. Add those three measurements together. The total is your linear measurement, in either centimeters or inches.
Handbag measurements are made up of three numbers and recorded as Length (L), Height (H), and finally Width (W). For example, the Hozen mini duffle bag which is five inches in diameter, eight inches wide and has a 5 inch arm strap could be written as: 8”L x 5”H x 5”W.