Taking the World by Storm

A creative dreamers guide to self-expression in the 21st Century. 

Storm Nutting

As I sat on the bed and watched her get ready, she pulled her hair back into two space buns, applying winged eyeliner so thick I thought she was about to fly away. Next, she paired her high-waisted, camo pants with a black, mesh crop-top. The look was finished by placing a red, French beret on her head and clipping on earrings that had a dangling little person on them. It was like watching an artist paint, or a poet write, except she herself was the masterpiece. “Aren’t you worried about what other people are going to think of you?” I asked in skeptical awe. “Nope” she replied instantaneously. “Why not?” I puzzled. She looked at me and said, “because I don’t give a fuck.” Fair enough then.

22-year-old event planner and stylist, Storm Nutting is using the art of self-expression to radiate empowerment onto the streets of Melbourne. Self-described and self-defined, Storm uprooted her life on the Gold Coast and moved to the capital of culture to pursue a life filled with disco-balls and glitter. Amongst the street-art, charcoal lattes, and vintage boutiques the young artist is thriving and vibing. Whether it be modeling for Russian magazines, taking abstract photos for her photography blog, or decorating venues with weekly party themes, Storm is continuously engaging in creativity. “Transforming entire venues into a different theme each week is so creatively stimulating and rewarding,” says Storm. “It’s such hard work and can be stressful, but for the overall outcome of creating a different environment and atmosphere each week, it’s so worth it!”

“I’m creative and comfortable in my own skin, and although I am not perfect, I love myself.”

Storming Alleyways in a leather choker, paired with pink bangs and knee-high combat boots, this girl is a force to be reckoned with. “I describe myself as a strong, open-minded individual who is grounded within myself,” says Storm passionately. “I’m creative and comfortable in my own skin, and although I am not perfect, I love myself.” In a society that tells us to blend in, being an individual is a rebellious act and one that requires courage and confidence. “It’s sad that so many people care so much about what other people think of them,” she says. “Although it’s understandable because social media creates a platform for mainstream and it’s hard for people to get away from that. I thrive off negative judgment. No one can change how I feel about myself I love me the way I am. When people react negatively to my fashion, it always gets me wondering why they go out of their way to bring others down. I round it all up to jealousy; they’re only doing it to feel better about themselves, the real problem lies in their self-esteem, it’s unfortunate.”

Often we get caught in the toxic cycle of fear of judgment, waging war within ourselves that fights between what our instincts tell us we want to be, and what society tells us we should be. The social media epidemic has not only changed the way we communicate with each other but the way we communicate with ourselves.

“Why live your life holding back who you are because you’re afraid of what other people may think?”

Our civilisation provides guidelines, expectations of who we should be and what we should do. For many people, defining ourselves and finding a sense of purpose becomes a challenge of fitting in and being accepted, yet not for this little hurricane. “Why live your life holding back who you are because you’re afraid of what other people may think?” says Storm. “You got this baby! Seriously! There’s no right or wrong, as long as you own it! Confidence is key to everything, find confidence in yourself, and you will genuinely progress to be a better version of yourself.”

The young artist is a modern crusader, a lover of all people and a fighter for a world without judgment or discrimination. Storm’s mentality goes beyond eccentric outfits; it’s a statement that reminds the world that there is no right and wrong when it comes to self-expression. We are all human beings tied together in the journey of life; there is no room for anything but love and acceptance. “I think the idea of self-expression is something that everyone wants to feel comfortable with,” says Storm. “Feeling accepted and being able to express yourself freely is such a precious attribute to any individual. The common issue within society is the fact that people don’t believe in themselves, they struggle to make an effort to change. It’s a beautiful thing to accomplish and conquer something within yourself that is so unexpected. There is no harm in trying, right?”