Dad and Dolly – how an 89-year-old man with Alzheimer’s became a style icon

“Growing up, I always thought my mum was the fashionable one. My dad has more accidental style,” says Katie Fyfe of her New York-born father, John. The 89-year-old shot to Instagram fame in 2023 when a video Fyfe posted of him, effortlessly dressed in Americana attire alongside “Pomeranian diva” Dolly, went viral.

John and Katie Fyfe in 1988

The internet notoriety coincided with John’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. “I was suddenly grappling with my new role as a carer,” says Fyfe. “With Dad’s blessing, I started uploading content of him as a way to keep a record but also as a resource. There’s no NCT class for looking after your parents.” The @dadanddolly account has since amassed a 77K-strong following of wardrobe – and dog – enthusiasts who admire John’s Wrangler jeans, Pendleton shirts and military-issue bomber jackets.

Dad and Dolly cotton socks, £25 © Jirapat Cherdchay

John and Katie Fyfe with their dogs, Dolly and Nicky © Jirapat Cherdchay