How two Brits brought the vintage fashion world to
South West France
Beaux Souvenirs is the only gîte in France with its own on-site fashion museum. Every guest is invited to a private guided tour with Vanessa, whose forty years of collecting have built both the museum, tracing the social history of every 20th-century era, and a boutique of designer vintage to try on and take home.
How It All Began
In Vanessa's own words
My passion for vintage fashion began in the 1980s when I discovered a delicate pink Edwardian blouse in an Essex antique shop. What started as a simple find soon grew into a lifelong love of beautiful fabrics, fine craftsmanship, and the stories every piece carries.
Over the years, I scoured car boot sales, charity shops, antique markets and auctions long before vintage became mainstream, developing a particular eye for iconic 20th-century pieces: the kind that scream their era the moment you see them. I was always drawn to designer or quality-branded labels, and collected not just clothing but shoes, bags, scarves, hats and everything in between, as long as it appealed to my eye.
My heart has always belonged to the 1920s to 1950s: an era of fine fabrics and extraordinary craftsmanship, when many pieces were handmade by people who knew their sewing machines inside out and how to put fabric together beautifully. Once mass production arrived in the 1960s, I only ever bought quality: never high street unless, of course, it was Quant or Biba.
The Eye of Time Vintage Boutique
By 2012, William and I had opened The Eye of Time: our own vintage boutique in Clare on the Essex/Suffolk border. Our clients included the BBC costume department, who sourced authentic pieces for productions such as Call the Midwife, and William regularly styled clients for iconic events, including the Goodwood Revival.
Clare is a beautiful medieval wool town with a strong independent shopping culture, and The Eye of Time quickly became a destination for vintage lovers from across the region. We hosted vintage evening events for the local community, styled clients for weddings, parties, and special occasions, and built a devoted clientele who shared our love of interesting pieces with stories to tell.
It was this experience: buying, styling, and sharing the history behind every piece, that laid the foundation for what would eventually become Your French Stay and the museum you can explore today.
From Essex to the Dordogne
When we moved to France and found our house, we knew immediately it was the perfect home for our growing collection. An on-site outbuilding presented the opportunity we had been waiting for, and with William's carpentry skills and our shared vision, we transformed it into a beautiful private museum dedicated to 20th-century women's fashion.
The result is a warm, intimate space where fashion and history can be enjoyed in a relaxed, personal atmosphere, with every piece chosen for the story it tells.
The museum is open to our guests and anyone with a keen interest in fashion. Non-guests can arrange visits by contacting us directly.
What Awaits Inside?
Our exhibits guide you through the decades of 20th-century women's fashion, with the social history stories that shaped each era woven into every piece. This tour appeals to all ages and genders; you don't need to love fashion to find it fascinating. The collection features both French and British pieces and is regularly added to, so there is always something new to discover.
Step into the refined world of the Edwardian woman: her waspish waist, her exquisite detailing, and the profound impact the First World War would have on everything she wore. Move through the exuberance of the 1920s Flapper Era, Coco Chanel's early years, and the Art Deco glamour of the 1930s.
Discover the reality of wartime dressing: WWII restrictions, the government's CC41 utility scheme, and the creativity that flourished despite them. Then comes Dior's revolutionary New Look, the 1960s boutique explosion from Biba to Mary Quant, the sparkling disco styles of the 1970s, and the bold power dressing of the 1980s.
And gentlemen are not forgotten: two dedicated shelves showcase a carefully selected collection of men's hats and accessories, including a rather magnificent folding top hat.
Along the way, you might even get to peek inside the handbag of a famous film star; the initial M is all we're saying.
What Our Guests Say About the Museum
"The museum tour was absolutely fascinating - Vanessa's knowledge is incredible!" — Adrian & Mandy, Essex, 2025
"The museum is an absolute gem! A must-see." — Clare & Barry, Jersey, 2023
"Vanessa's fashion tour was second to none - so interesting and informative!" — Carol & Jeff, Scotland, 2024
"Thank you for the wonderful museum tour - you enveloped us with your passion!" — Jon & Julie, Hartlepool, 2022
The Vintage Fashion Boutique
The Vintage Collection at Beaux Souvenirs Over decades of collecting through our Eye of Time boutique, markets, auctions and private sources, our collection grew to the point where it deserved a proper home. The result is The Vintage Collection at Beaux Souvenirs: a dedicated boutique in the barn beside the gîte, where over 600 pieces spanning the 1920s to 2000 can be browsed, tried on and purchased at your leisure.
From daywear to eveningwear, the boutique also offers a wonderful selection of accessories: shoes, handbags, scarves, hats and jewellery to complement your find. Designers include Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Mugler and Alexander McQueen, and that's just the beginning.
The boutique is not open to the general public. Guests of Beaux Souvenirs are welcome to browse throughout their stay, and non-guests can visit by appointment only. If you have a special occasion approaching, a cruise on the horizon, or simply want to own a piece of fashion history, this is the place to find it.
How to Visit the Museum
For Guests of Beaux Souvenirs: Guided tours with Vanessa are included with your stay. I will arrange a time that suits you during your holiday: whether you'd like to visit early in your stay or save it as a highlight for later in the week.
For Non-Guests: Love vintage fashion or social history? You don't need to stay with us to visit. Private tours and access to the boutique are available by appointment only: simply get in touch, and we will arrange a convenient time.
Book your stay at our gîte and enjoy complimentary access to the vintage fashion museum and boutique during your Dordogne holiday.
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