Kikay accessories for the stars
by Boy Abunda ( PhilStar ) 11.13.09
A simple merienda get-together with Kikay Accessories owner Katherine So Chua turned into an impromptu fashion advice session when our conversation touched on the hottest names in showbiz today.

Asked what kind of earrings she’ll recommend to Kris Aquino, Katherine said: “Long ones.” Katherine explained that long earrings draw the eyes to follow a vertical line of vision which gives the illusion of an elongated face.

Angel Locsin, on the other hand, will do well wearing chunky earrings to off set the angular shape of her face. Katherine said that the Only You star can also go for hoop earrings so that the roundness would soften the square structure of her jaws.

As for Kim Chiu, the Kikay owner said the young actress belongs to that blessed league that can get away with wearing any accessory she likes. “Maliit kasi yung face niya and she’s very thin. Even if she wears ‘loud’ earrings, like chunky ones, madadala niya. Kung conservative naman ang style nung earring, pwede pa din because of her wholesome image.”

Indeed, it’s not all about a face’s shape that determines the accessory that would suit it. The person’s image and the occasion where she plans to wear an accessory are deciding factors, too. “Like in the case of Lea Salonga: Even if she can get away wearing more, shall we say, adventurous earrings, it’s best for her — an international actress — to wear studs with precious stones to denote elegance,” said Katherine.

How about someone with a prominent feature like Ai-Ai de las Alas? Katherine recommends earrings with simple cut and line for the comedienne. However, since her job requires her to be larger than life to elicit laughs, the Kikay owner said that Ai-Ai could actually use large accessories for that zany look. “It is what her job requires,” said Katherine.

Kikay Accessories has been around for years now and with four branches so far (Robinsons Galleria, Glorietta 3, Greenbelt 1 and Market! Market!).

She said that Filipinas today are more fashion conscious. Many of her clients buy on a monthly basis, “following every payroll” to be exact. Some of the styles of her accessories have even been forecast in Instyle magazine. All her merchandise come in very limited stocks giving it exclusivity.

“Some of our items, we source abroad, particularly countries in Asia. The others I create and then have craftsmen, both here and abroad, execute my design,” she said.

Katherine is proud of the quality of her products. She said that many have tried to imitate her designs but as they say, nothing beats the original. Many of her customers also use their Kikay accessories for years and years — the biggest proof of quality.

Kikay Accessories has already spun off an apparel line called Pink Sapphire. The brand specializes on party clothes that could also pass off as office wear “but with a punch.” New clothes are delivered every week. She said the Pink Sapphire clothes go well with the accessories sold in Kikay

“If you want to stand out, wear Kikay,” she said.