Next week, Style File Friday will be back as normal next week. However, this week I wanted to celebrate a special anniversary for the blog- this week marks 6 years of An Historian About Town! I know that there are many blogs that have been around longer, but I’m proud. My little corner of the internet has flourished, and I like to think that it is a welcoming and engaging place. So, today is going to be celebrating my 6 year blog anniversary! I’ve got some of my favourite blogging moments and what I’m excited for in the next year.
The Evolution of An Historian About Town…
An Historian About Town has taken many different forms during the years. Originally I started out being a catch-all lifestyle blog with daily posts. While I don’t miss full years of daily posts, I appreciate that I learned to make a schedule for myself right away. (I do love the daily posts of Blogmas, though- more holiday fun!) And at the end of the day, I don’t think I’m a lifestyle blogger!
I’ve always featured history, culture, and style on the blog, from the very beginning. However, we are coming up on 3 years of focusing on those, and I love what An Historian About Town is now. I never run out of things to write about, and judging from my traffic, people enjoy it, too. I have the freedom to play around with the subjects that interest me, but challenge myself to stay in my parametres, and that is a great skill to have.
Favourite Moments on An Historian About Town
There are a few different posts on the blog that stand out to me for different reasons. These aren’t necessarily the most popular posts, traffic-wise, but ones that are meaningful to me. The posts are linked in the title, if you would like to revisit them! (Or visit them for the first time!)
Dior: Designer of Dreams- Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, DIORama (V&A)
The 2019 Christian Dior exhibition was monumental for me for so many reasons. Firstly, I miss pretty much EVERY notable fashion history exhibition. The fact that I was able to see this exhibition (with the amazing Hisdoryan) is a major feat! Secondly, it really underscored for me that my interest in fashion history wasn’t a frivolous choice. Thirdly, it was just SO incredible to see. I had to split it into five posts to give it the deserved space!
My Five Absolute Favourite Books
I certainly have other book posts that have more traffic than this post. However, this one holds a special place in my blogging heart because it was (relatively) popular for me. And these are still books that I return to/recommend on a regular basis! While themed lists are quite fun to make, it was fun to just pick any books that I love!
Queen Victoria and Ballet?
I wasn’t quite certain how people would respond to ballet on the blog, I do know that it is a rather niche topic. However, the response has been amazing, and I’m thrilled to chat about ballet with so many of you. This blog post was a little different- it is more formal than most of my blog posts, but I loved writing it and the topic. No one expects Queen Victoria to be jaunting to the theatre to watch the ballet three nights a week!
Royal Women- Part I, Part II (Fashion Museum)
This was another 2019 gem, and I feel SO lucky that I was able to catch this exhibition. The Fashion Museum in Bath is quite small, but it packs a fashion history punch. And this Royal Women exhibition may have been a small exhibition, but there were some incredible pieces in it. Seeing Queen Alexandra’s wedding dress AND several Norman Hartnell gowns, in addition to the Countess of Wessex’s 2011 royal wedding ensemble was incredible, and I still cannot believe it.
The #AnHistorianReads Book Club
I’m so proud of my little book club- it is the book club that could! Originally started in summer 2018, I restarted it in April 2020 with quarantine keeping us at home. Now we are onto our fourth book (Emily of New Moon, if you are interested) and although it’s small, it is welcoming and active. It’s low pressure and we make our way through different classic books, and I find it very refreshing! You can request to join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/429294487548846.
What I’m Looking Forward To…
I’m rather lucky with quarantine, in some ways. Because I’m based in the middle of Canada and much of the history I write about and study is based in the UK, I always have to be creative in how I can approach things without being there. Lockdown didn’t change anything in that regard for me, and it’s brought even more traffic to the blog. I’ve got big things planned for the blog in 2021, and I hope that you are excited, too…
Bridgerton
I knew that Bridgerton would be popular, but people are loving my Bridgerton content and I’m loving writing it. I’ve got several Bridgerton-related posts coming out in the next few months, including a guest post I am VERY excited for. And if you are interested in a Bridgerton watch/re-watch, I’ve got a Facebook group where we are watching one episode a week starting Saturday, 6 February: https://www.facebook.com/groups/410193233586827. (There will be a live discussion as well as a regular one, so you can watch with us or watch separately and discuss.)
Classical Ballets in Focus
After the success of my history of ballet series, I’m going to be doing a series looking at each of the “big” classical ballets. I’ll profile the history of them, the creatives behind them (then and now), and why they are important in the ballet world today. I want ballet and the arts in general to be as accessible as possible, and I think that knowing what went into them helps. There are also some very juicy and dramatic stories behind them, simply put!
Personal Style File Fridays
Style File Fridays are largely where fashion history lives on the blog. However, I’m going to be bringing in some of my personal style and beauty in- one post a month will be looking at my own style. It is influenced rather a lot by the history I study, and the more I think about it, the more connections I see. Also, there is accountability in sharing it, and given that I do have style and beauty goals, I think sharing once a month is a good way to tackle that!
Blogmas 2021
Yes- as of publishing, it is 15 January and I’ve already started planning the next Blogmas! I think it is obvious just how much I love Christmas and the history of Christmas, and I’ve already started working on next year’s plans and posts. Doing Blogmas every year means I have to be creative with coming up with new topics, and I’ve already got an excess of ideas.
Of course, all of my regular posts will continue. My Monarch of the Month series continues on, looking at the Tudors forward! And you will never want for book recommendations while I’m around- I’ve got several different book bites and themed lists ready for you. And Style File Friday will be profiling the fashion history exhibitions, books, and designers that you are dying to read about.
Thank you for joining me for 6 years of An Historian About Town, and here is to 6 years more!
Cheers,
The Historian
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