America The Beautiful: Dennis E. Armstead

‘You’ve gotta walk into a place looking like something,’ says Dennis E. Armstead, the United States’ most dashing septuagenarian. ‘Aim to provoke an emotion from people who are scared to dress.’ 
America The Beautiful: Dennis E. Armstead
After spending an afternoon with the effervescent septuagenarian jazz hip-cat and all-round bon vivant Dennis E. Armstead, you might be tricked into thinking you’re in the company of the most vivacious of twentysomething epicureans. With his youthful charm, a wardrobe capable of challenging that of our magazine’s dear founder, and possessing a generosity of spirit to match, Mr. Armstead is the embodiment of everything The Rake admires. Originally published in The Rake Issue 39. Subscribe here to read the original article.
Dennis’s shirts are made by Turnbull & Asser. This rounded collar is a bespoke design created for him; go into Turnbull & Asser and you can actually ask for ‘Dennis’s collar’…
Dennis’s correspondents reflect his penchant for the style of the American jazz greats. A happy find in New & Lingwood some years ago when George Glasgow of Cleverley was still working there, no small effort has been exhausted to keep them so pristine.
This vintage Rolex was a gift from Dennis’s sons, and their initials are engraved for him on the back of the case. He takes great pride in it, hence its immaculate condition.
This vintage Rolex was a gift from Dennis’s sons, and their initials are engraved for him on the back of the case. He takes great pride in it, hence its immaculate condition.
Braces are a necessity for Dennis; he lays claim to ‘a collection and a half’. This vintage Thurston pair features a cheeky nude motif — a nod to his fun-loving character.