Valentino Bonaccio knows what a good watch can do for an outfit. The 22-year-old style enthusiast and social media tastemaker (creating under the pseudonym @valentinoxdior) spends countless hours thinking about different clothing combinations, finding ways to elevate each look. Still, he suggests, a good wrist piece changes everything.
“A watch is really the finishing touch to an outfit,” Bonaccio says. “As you grow and mature, so should your style. It’s really crazy how much a watch adds to your wardrobe.”
More than just conjecture, the social media star teamed up with Highsnobiety and the iconic American watchmaker and lifestyle brand Fossil to show just how essential accessories are to the overall fit. Donning the USA-inspired design from Fossil’s new World Flags Big Tic series, Bonaccio cycles through a series of looks that nod to his deep understanding of personal style and appreciation for quality wristwear.
Raised in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, the burgeoning trendsetter grew up surrounded by influences that would shape his outlook on fashion, most notably his family. From childhood, Bonaccio recalls watching his father pursue his passion for collecting and selling heritage timepieces, instilling in him that same appreciation for craftsmanship.
“My dad always had a love for classic watches,” he remembers. “When I was about eight, that's when he got his own booth on 47th Street in the Diamond District, just hustling and flipping different timepieces. Now he owns the store LUX-O in Soho. Seeing him was a big inspiration and definitely started my love for watches.”
Similarly, Bonaccio’s older sister had a large impact on how he thinks about fashion, encouraging him to wear pieces that stretched his sartorial taste beyond a wardrobe that, at the time, largely consisted of athletic wear and basketball sneakers, he admits. From there, he would begin experimenting with different cuts and silhouettes, discovering a newfound confidence to further explore the art of dressing in his own way.
Now, having developed a recognizable image, Bonaccio has become a reference point in his own right, amassing a large social following that looks to him for guidance on fashion taste. First creating light-hearted outfit videos as a high school senior during his work breaks, the social media star has carved out a distinctive niche for himself focused on highlighting menswear for the next generation. Blending classic aesthetics with contemporary streetwear sensibilities, Bonaccio has curated a style that feels timeless and adaptable; fresh yet still familiar.
“Personal style to me just means feeling comfortable and wearing something that you think you can swag,” he notes. “I feel like I’m really versatile in my dress. I love switching it up because, at the end of the day, I’m just having fun with everything.”
Translating fun into fashionable flair, Bonaccio effortlessly assembles a few patriotic-inspired looks centered around Fossil’s World Flags Big Tic USA watch, a piece that feels less like an accessory and more like a focal point. Playing around with layering and fit, the fashion-forward creator brings a bold energy to a watch that’s already engineered to draw attention.
As the sporting world’s focus shifts to North America this summer, the limited-edition watch collection combines a sporty analog-digital design with fan-forward colorways that instantly signal where allegiances lie. Designed with a 40mm stainless steel case, a silicone wrist strap, and custom country-themed motifs, these watches make an immediate statement in any time zone — a quality that Bonaccio considers essential in the best timepieces.
“I love a watch that stands out, and that you can shape your whole look around,” he says. “I’ve known about the Fossil watches since I was young and have always felt like that’s something they’re good at making.”
Adding another piece to his growing watch collection — one that he concedes is nowhere near as extensive as his dad’s — Bonaccio is already matchday fresh, merging his signature aura with the brand’s heritage appeal. Flexing Fossil’s latest release, inspired by global game-day spirit, the young style artbiter is prepped and ready to show out as the whole world turns to watch.
Shop Fossil’s World Flag collection at fossil.com.
