Welcome to A Common Thread

Hi! I’m Jess Kirby, an ex-fashion and beauty influencer who left it all behind to start an anti-consumption newsletter about buying less stuff, and pursuing a more meaningful and intentional life.

At a time when so many of us seek community and connection, I hope this newsletter can serve as a place to support that.

I walked away from influencing and paid partnerships so I could independently publish this newsletter. This gives me the ability to talk freely and openly about the topics I want to cover without pressure or influence from brands and corporations. Your paid subscriptions help cover the cost of this work.

What is A Common Thread about?

Here are a few popular essays to check out:

• The beauty secret that changed my life

• How to do a year of buying nothing new

• What happened when I deleted email from my phone

• A list of things I no longer do as an ex-influencer

• The joy of wearing the same thing

• Have we reached peak consumerism?

• The only child argument

• Some paywall free editions of my most popular series: Click. Read. Love here, here and here.

As a paid subscriber you get:

• My most popular weekly series Click. Read. Love. which includes the best recommendations from around the web including essays, articles, podcasts, books, recipes, TV/movies, and more

• Personal essays examining influencer culture, over-consumption, modern motherhood, our relationship to tech, and more

• Automatic access to the “buy nothing new” community

• How to shop your own closet

• Opportunities to connect with the community in the comments and access to the entire archive

What paid subscribers say:

• “I appreciate how you are honestly writing about some of the biggest issues I am also currently dealing with - consumerism, motherhood, negative effects of social media, threats to reproductive rights, and others.”

• “I love reading your newsletter and your transition away from social media has inspired me to do the same.”

• “The links you provide are top notch, and always interesting, diverse, and well curated.”

• “Your writing (on a wide variety of topics) is always relevant, thoughtful, and thought-provoking.”

• "I love that you moved from influencer to anti-consumption advocate. Such an important message to share with the world! And I'm inspired by your no-buy approach and your efforts to break up with tech!"

• "I followed you back in the day, and absolutely LOVE what you're doing now. I need to hear from someone else that, by giving away our attention, we are unwittingly giving away our rights. Thank you."

About me:

I live in Vermont with my partner, daughter, two dogs and one cat. I love our slower pace of life, being surrounded by nature, and the sense of community in our small village.