Cynthia Bailey is grieving the loss of one of her closest friends. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star has spoken out following the death of renowned fashion designer and celebrity stylist Kithe Brewster, who passed away this week at the age of 60. For Bailey, the loss is deeply personal, the kind that goes well beyond professional admiration and into something that feels much more like family.
Bailey described Brewster as someone who was far more than a creative collaborator. Their bond, by her account, was built on years of trust, loyalty and genuine affection. She remembered him not only for the extraordinary work he produced but for the way he showed up for the people he loved, particularly during their most difficult moments.
The designer behind Bailey’s most daring looks
One of the most memorable examples of Brewster’s influence on Bailey was the striking platinum silver wedding dress she wore during a now-iconic episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta. That gown, bold and unconventional by any measure, was a reflection of Brewster’s signature approach to fashion, one that pushed boundaries and celebrated individuality above all else.
Bailey credited him with helping her embrace her own sense of style in ways she might not have explored on her own. She described him as someone who encouraged her to take risks and trust the process, a quality she said made him unlike anyone else she had worked with. His fearlessness in fashion, she noted, mirrored the way he moved through life more broadly.
A legacy that touched the biggest names in the industry
Brewster’s reach extended well beyond his friendship with Bailey. Over the course of his career, he worked alongside some of the most celebrated figures in music and film, including Beyoncé, Iman, Julianne Moore and Janelle Monáe. Each collaboration added another layer to a legacy that was already deeply woven into the fabric of contemporary style.
His work was defined by a rare creative vision, one that felt ahead of its time in ways that only become clearer in retrospect. Those who knew him and worked with him consistently pointed to the same qualities: an instinct for beauty, a generosity of spirit and an ability to see potential in people before they fully saw it in themselves.
Remembering the man behind the talent
What Bailey’s tribute makes especially clear is that Brewster was cherished not just for what he created but for who he was. She described him as kind, loving, supportive and deeply loyal, the kind of friend who showed up when it mattered most. His passing leaves a gap that those closest to him will feel for a long time.
The cause of his death has not been publicly confirmed. Bailey reflected on the years they shared and expressed gratitude for having been present during both the joyful and the harder chapters of his life. Her words painted a picture of someone who gave generously of himself and who deserved every bit of the love being sent his way now.
The fashion world has lost a visionary, and Bailey has lost someone she considered irreplaceable.
