Honey by Kait’s Kaitlyn O’Neill Shares the ‘Why’ Behind Her Viral Brand
When Kaitlyn O'Neill wasn't able to find the stylish it-girl jewelry she was looking for, she decided to make a change—and start making that jewelry herself.
The result is her handmade jewelry brand, Honey by Kait, known for its luxe designs and high-quality materials at affordable prices—as well as its celebrity fans. The viral jewelry brand has been worn by stars including Alix Earle, Addison Rae, Dixie and Charlie D'Amelio and so many more, and it's one of our must-know jewelry companies of 2024. With pieces selling from $17 to $228, Honey by Kait truly is for everyone, and we had the pleasure of chatting with Kait herself to learn all about the brand, its inspirations and what it means to her to be a young entrepreneur.
Name: Kaitlyn O'Neill
IG handles: @kaitlyno.neill and @honeybykait
Hometown: Newport Beach, California
1. Kaitlyn truly fell in love with style when she moved to London in the summer of 2022.
"I realized that I dress so much better as soon as I touch down in any city, no matter the season. Following this trip, I have worked to bring that city-girl street style with me back to the states. I have to say that I still dress significantly better in Europe, but I have invested more time into picking pieces each day for my looks and understanding what I want my style to be and the vibe I wish to convey. I have also become inspired by different celebrity stylists since branching out my own style. I love Kendall Jenner's style, especially her day-to-day looks, and I've been loving her cozy winter outfits. I love Sara Walker and Emily Lafitte as well."
-Kaitlyn O'Neill
(Image courtesy of Kaitlyn O'Neill)
2. She has a keen eye for trends—even before they become trends.
"For my personal style, I tend to have a sense for seasonal trends before they hit, so I always follow along with those. For example, two trends that are very prominent this winter are furs and knee-high black boots. A lot of the pieces that I incorporate into my style are taken from my sister's closet, and sometimes my mom's if I'm looking to add in some vintage pieces. Nowadays I have been dressing a bit more classy and put together, rather than my typical California street style looks. For example, I have incorporated a lot of silks and tweed into my wardrobe, and will wear that to even a casual setting like a coffee shop. Again, I think this is inspired by my European style and overall European trends. There is nothing better
than a clean and classy look."-Kaitlyn O'Neill
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3. Kaitlyn had dreamed of starting her own jewelry brand since she was 13 before she created Honey by Kait.
"It all began one day in July of 2019. I was sitting at the pool and had recently graduated from high school, and the thought just came to me. As I was sitting in this pool chair I started brainstorming names and came up with Honey by Kait and the vision that I had for it. I went home and worked on the website, logo, etc., and launched the brand about five weeks later. Honey by Kait went viral on TikTok in 2020 from a video that I posted of myself making earrings for Madison Beer, and has been worn by a variety of influencers and celebrities such as Dixie D'Amelio, Alix Earle, Addison Rae, Sydney Carlson and many more!
In 2020, Honey by Kait grew exponentially, and we have been growing, scaling and expanding ever since. What sets us apart from other jewelry brands is our community. We are more than just a jewelry brand. Yes—we have high-quality, elegant and on-trend pieces, but beyond that, we have an incredible community of "honeybabes" who encourage each other to follow their dreams and be their best selves, all while wearing Honey by Kait's gold details."
-Kaitlyn O'Neill
(Image courtesy of Kaitlyn O'Neill)
4. Her go-to outfit when she's in a rush depends on where she's going.
"If I am going into the office, I like to dress professionally and look classy and put together, so I will typically throw on a pair of black pleated or silk pants, some loafers and a simple top and jacket to tie it all together. If I am running errands, then I will most likely be in a SET Active workout set, but I don't spend much time out of the office nowadays."
-Kaitlyn O'Neill
5. One of the best pieces of advice she ever got was from her godfather, two years ago.
"He is so wise—and in the middle of a random conversation about life, he said 'Your faith can only be as good as your doubt,' and that really stuck with me. I wish I had written down more of his quotes over the years because every conversation that we have inspires me and has made me a better boss, friend and overall person."
-Kaitlyn O'Neill
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6. Her favorite pieces of jewelry from her current collection are the two cross necklaces in her JVS Stack.
"I have a lot of favorites, but this stack is extra special. I launched it in collaboration with my good friend Jamie Van Slooten, and we created two cross necklaces that stack perfectly with each other—the Pave Cross Necklace, featuring pave stones, and the Classic Cross Necklace, which is a plain gold cross on a dainty Figaro chain. I love these two necklaces because of the cross. At the end of the day, I know that Honey by Kait was a dream planted in my heart by God, and He has been with me every step of the way, and I am forever blessed and thankful. Everyone loves the JVS Stack so much that we have restocked it twice and it has sold out almost instantly both times."
-Kaitlyn O'Neill
(Image courtesy of Kaitlyn O'Neill)
7. Her current favorite jewelry trend is the girly bow aesthetic.
"I love how everyone is putting bows on everything! This year, we have bows on our office Christmas tree, and I hope that everyone keeps this trend around for a while. I actually had the idea to work on a bow-related collection at the beginning of 2023, so I am very excited that everyone is so into it right now, and that makes me even more excited for the capsule that we are launching towards the end of January in the new year. It is
perfect timing for Valentine's Day and very unique compared to our previous collections. I've had a ton of fun working on it."-Kaitlyn O'Neill
8. One thing that Kaitlyn wants people to know about her is why she does what she does.
"I think that is the most important part of Honey by Kait—the 'why.' Through Honey by Kait, and honestly anything that I do, I want people to always be reminded that their potential is endless and that no dream is too big. I hope that people feel inspired and capable to tap into their potential and utilize the gifts and talents that they possess, and share them with the world, just as I have with Honey by Kait."
-Kaitlyn O'Neill
(Image courtesy of Kaitlyn O'Neill)
For more on our favorite women in fashion, click HERE to learn all about Kristen and Hadley Greene, the duo behind Love All tennis Co.