There is an inexhaustible variety of blogs online which have caught the imagination of history buffs for their content and aesthetic. I list some of my favorites below, and why they strike my fancy.

  1. http://this-day-in-history.blogspot.com/ This blog focuses on one aspect of history: clothing. This helps to make it more focused and engaging, and does not overburden the reader with too much information. It has a very beautiful and elegant aesthetic, which offsets the historicity of its design with the vibrant but not off-putting colour scheme. The pictures create a pleasant backdrop to the text, and are also used to showcase real historical dress designs in a visually educational way.

 

  1. http://victorianpeeper.blogspot.com/ This blog is written in a way echoing the history books we have all grown up learning from. However, the topics and writing style are a bit more engaging and creative, as is the aesthetic of the blog. The pictures used are bright and interesting, and it almost feels like reading a newspaper, which makes it feel more current and engaging.

 

  1. https://19thcentury.wordpress.com/ This blog, similar to the one above, has a very newspaper-like feel to it, which adds to the concept that you need a cohesive theme to make the blog look visually pleasing and thus engaging. The pictures are very antique-looking, lending an air of authenticity to the “old newspaper”-like quality of the blog.

 

  1. http://scandalouswoman.blogspot.com/ This blog is a definite stand-out, from its bold concept to its moody, and, indeed, “seductive”, aesthetic. The pictures featured are very Great Gatsby-ish, giving it a distinct look, and it analyses and gives reviews on historically-based literature, giving it an extra flair as compared to other history blogs. It also has a very set focus, that is scandalous women in history, which is not only a rare topic in most history books, but also intriguing enough to attract readers from all fields, not just history.

 

  1. http://historytavern.blogspot.com/ This blog has a very different aesthetic compared to other history blogs, being based in a tavern aesthetic, complete with a bar background and a simpler design. The writings are very conversational and narrative in a way, as they are meant to resemble conversations in a tavern between patrons. This adds that bit of uniqueness that sets this blog apart from most others.

 

  1. http://famiss.blogspot.com/ This blog is also based on historical women, and it engages with its readers in a manner that makes the information easy and relatable to grasp, linking the past to the present, as advertised: “Historical Wisdom for Today’s Modern Lifestyle”. While the design is simple, the pictures are old, which helps establish the marriage of the old and the new, the historical and the modern, thus staying on-brand and making the design cohesive in a way that caters to history buffs and relatively less historically inclined audiences alike.

 

  1. http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/ This blog, while not catering exclusively to history, does focus a lot on historical literature and their analysis and reviews, giving it that bit of flavour which engages an audience. The design is simple and effective, academic and clean while also looking elegant.

 

  1. http://www.thehistoryblog.com/ This blog has one of the more unique designs. It looks like an old-fashioned book, browned pages and all. Its design is very antique-looking as well, giving it an air of authenticity.

 

  1. https://www.mariegossip.com/ This is similar to Lady Whistledown from Bridgerton, with its stylish design which melds the old and the new, its interesting premise, and its varied style of presenting information, from Instagram posts to writing pieces, as well as pictures.

 

  1. https://www.froginawell.net/frog/ This blog is very simple and elegant, using brush strokes and a simplistic style to catch attention in a subtle way. It is narrated in a very conversational (but still formal) style, and overall has a very calming aesthetic.

 

  1. https://ancientfoods.wordpress.com/ This blog has made its focus food, particularly ancient food and the history of food over the centuries, making it appeal to historians and food-lovers alike. It has a simple, clean style, and its topic of interest is wide-ranged and universally engaging enough to appeal to most people.

 

  1. https://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com/ This blog is designed in yet another Bridgerton-esque style, making it look both historical and colourful and engaging. The writings are all very conversational and friendly in tone, which corresponds with the fact that this blog’s main purpose was a way for two girls who love history to have fun with it. There are book recommendations, fashion analyses, and discussions surrounding everything from crime and law to revolutions. The sheer range of this blog, as well as its welcoming aesthetic, makes for a pleasant atmosphere and appeals to many readers.

How would you organize a blog about clothing? How would your blog showcase your love for history? What a lot of these blogs do is use modern forms of rhetoric (twitter posts) to show how historical events and concerns would translate. Others focus on a specialty around which they sculpt their aesthetic. But most importantly they are engaging and comforting. They do not remind you of dense scholarly jargon or taxonomies, whilst still giving you important information. How would you strike a balance as well?