Xochitl Gomez Looked to Gwen Stefani's Punk Era When Designing Her Debut Hot Topic Collection (Exclusive)

Xochitl Gomez already has a lot to celebrate in 2024. She just wrapped up her stint on the Dancing with the Stars Live tour with partner Val Chmerkovskiy (if you missed it, the two slayed season 32 of the dancing competition show and took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy). 

Now, she’s finding her groove in the style space with an exciting new gig — Hot Topic’s first Social Collision Chief Style Officer! 

Last July, the actress, 17, starred in and styled Hot Topic's back-to-school campaign. Today, she and the brand are taking things to the next level with Gomez co-designing and marketing a series of collections for Social Collision, the brand’s punk-inspired in-house label.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Gomez dishes all the details on her “insane” and undeniably cool title, which she takes as a “huge freaking compliment.” 

“Social Collision is a nod to the OG Hot Topic aesthetic, but it's also fresh and new. That's what drew me to it,” says Gomez of the partnership, which also includes a campaign featuring the soon-to-launch pieces that show off her grungy side.

If there’s anyone who understands Hot Topic’s DNA, it’s Gomez, who’s been repping the brand since she was a fashion-"adventurous" 10-year-old. Back in the day, she wore her mom's vintage T-shirts and studded belts to school. Later, a pair of classic red plaid pants from the brand became her first purchase.

"I've always been an artsy, grungy kid. I think it has a lot to do with my mom because she had these pieces already in her closet, so you can already tell what my influence was growing up," Gomez says, adding that her mom is the ultimate "cool girl."

So, when she began working on Social Collision, everything came naturally. In fact, the multi-hyphenated role "wasn’t really intimidating."

“It's pretty easy to read what kind of, let's say shoes and accessories, I like,” she says of the "super collaborative" process thus far. "They've noted down some of my favorite things I like to wear, and they collected their version of it," adds Gomez.

What you can expect: grungy Gwen Stefani-inspired clothing decked in hardware, such as chains, studs and grommets, plus bold patterns and motifs, like plaids and stars. A big fan of piling on accessories to her red carpet looks, Gomez included statement jewelry too.

The end goal was to bring a "fresh perspective" that “hit all the little points" and represented different Gen Z teens and their aesthetics.

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Ultimately, the Marvel star wants everyone to be empowered by their style.

“It's always important to showcase how you feel in the moment and to not barricade yourself into one thing,” shares Gomez, who never pigeonholes her wardrobe, which can go from dainty and girly one day to oversize silhouettes inspired by Billie Eilish the next.

Her new platform is “an opportunity to encourage everyone just to go out there and rock what you like and don't think twice about it,” she says. Her mantra: “Wear what you like and own it.” 

To stay updated on Gomez's collections for Social Collision, visit hottopic.com and the brand's TikTok and Instagram.