Spring Carnival Style : A Poor Man's Millions

We’ve spotted Jared Acquaro of cult menswear blog A Poor Man’s Millions (APMMillions to those in the know) pairing Bailey Nelsons with his immaculately tailored wardrobe from Milan to Sydney. On a sunny afternoon in Melbourne we sat down with Jared to discuss his philosophy of value: ‘knowledge is everything’, in light of the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival.

That ethos gave Jared his motivation to start the blog: ‘The inspiration behind A Poor Man’s Millions is educating oneself on personal style and needs... It all comes off personal experience and real scenarios, there is no forceful hard selling nor me selling something I don’t believe in for money’. That’s certainly a spirit that resonates with Bailey Nelson. In 2012, our founders launched Bailey Nelson at the Bondi markets, driven by the knowledge that it didn’t make sense to pay several times the price for quality specs just because of a chintzy logo. As Jared says, ‘It isn’t about doing things on the cheap but more spending your hard earned money more wisely, while looking a million dollars’.

For a day trackside, Jared’s advice is on point. ‘Don’t follow trends, just be yourself. Style is personal and about who you are’. For Jared, who mentions that he’s a qualified motor mechanic on top of his already impressive blogging CV, that means the Ward - a Bailey Nelson style inspired by the streamlined profile of 1970s European racing glasses are his favourite pair.


For those with different affinities, we’ve created a collection of timeless Spring Carnival frames. ‘There are many practical aspects to style, so start slow, learn on your own terms and just have fun with it’, says Jared.

You’d be a fool to bet against seeing Jared trackside in the near future, but his agenda goes way beyond the racing season even if, as he modestly says, Jared is ‘just moving slow and steady’. He’ll be back at Pitti Uomo, one of the most important international events for menswear in picturesque Florence, next year.

There will be more travel and some upcoming projects still under wraps. ‘Possibilities of a book too’, Jared suggests at the end of our conversation. ‘Nothing generic, like most menswear books, but something more about personal and practical experiences’. We wouldn’t expect anything less.

Follow Jarred on @apmmillions or head to his website.
Jared wears the Ward in Black Yellow Demi. 
Photography by Gani Moore http://www.ganiphotography.com/