<strong>Angels: </strong>A London institution since 1840, Angels Fancy Dress on Shaftesbury Avenue is the city's go-to destination for Halloween costumes. It's the city-center arm of Angels Costumes, the world's oldest and longest-established professional costume house.
Angels: A London institution since 1840, Angels Fancy Dress on Shaftesbury Avenue is the city's go-to destination for Halloween costumes. It's the city-center arm of Angels Costumes, the world's oldest and longest-established professional costume house.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>A British success story: </strong>Frankfurt-born tailor Morris Angel arrived in London in 1813 and set up a barrow in Covent Garden selling second-hand clothes. Seven generations later, his descendants Tim, Emma, Daniel and Jeremy Angel run the business.
A British success story: Frankfurt-born tailor Morris Angel arrived in London in 1813 and set up a barrow in Covent Garden selling second-hand clothes. Seven generations later, his descendants Tim, Emma, Daniel and Jeremy Angel run the business.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Bespoke outfits: </strong>The upper two floors of the Shaftesbury Avenue store<strong> </strong>are dedicated to Angels' hire service, where trained costumiers help customers create bespoke outfits. Customer Katrina Makhova, from Ukraine, tells CNN Travel, "I just like combining little things."
Bespoke outfits: The upper two floors of the Shaftesbury Avenue store are dedicated to Angels' hire service, where trained costumiers help customers create bespoke outfits. Customer Katrina Makhova, from Ukraine, tells CNN Travel, "I just like combining little things."
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Theater, film and TV:</strong> In the 1880s, West End theatrical managers began using Angels' tailoring services for their productions. When the film industry took off in the 20th century, Angels was there to dress the stars of the silver screen.
Theater, film and TV: In the 1880s, West End theatrical managers began using Angels' tailoring services for their productions. When the film industry took off in the 20th century, Angels was there to dress the stars of the silver screen.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>As seen on screen: </strong>Angels' film and TV stock is kept at a 160,000-square-foot purpose-built warehouse in Hendon, north London, but many garments worn on screen -- such as these frock coats from "Pirates of the Caribbean" -- make their way into the city-center store.
As seen on screen: Angels' film and TV stock is kept at a 160,000-square-foot purpose-built warehouse in Hendon, north London, but many garments worn on screen -- such as these frock coats from "Pirates of the Caribbean" -- make their way into the city-center store.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Halloween trends: </strong>Store manager Andy Andreou predicts clowns will be big this year, inspired by Pennywise from "It." However, "gladiator costumes are the number one most popular costumes for men. Men are changing," he adds. They "want to show off their muscles."
Halloween trends: Store manager Andy Andreou predicts clowns will be big this year, inspired by Pennywise from "It." However, "gladiator costumes are the number one most popular costumes for men. Men are changing," he adds. They "want to show off their muscles."
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Hendon warehouse: </strong>There are more than one million items stored at Angel Costumes in Hendon, and eight miles of hanging clothing. The public can visit the warehouse on guided tours, which take place regularly throughout the year.
Hendon warehouse: There are more than one million items stored at Angel Costumes in Hendon, and eight miles of hanging clothing. The public can visit the warehouse on guided tours, which take place regularly throughout the year.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Tailoring rooms: </strong>Jeremy Angel gives CNN Travel a tour of his family business. In the Hendon tailoring rooms, there are record books with details of customers such as Noel Coward. There's also a former employee listed merely as Lee; he's better known as the late designer Alexander McQueen.
Tailoring rooms: Jeremy Angel gives CNN Travel a tour of his family business. In the Hendon tailoring rooms, there are record books with details of customers such as Noel Coward. There's also a former employee listed merely as Lee; he's better known as the late designer Alexander McQueen.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Masters at work:</strong> As well as crafting costumes to the exact demands of their entertainment industry clients, the tailors at Angels are also adept at altering costumes so they can be worn again and again by people of all shapes and sizes. The key is to hide the fabric, rather than removing it. Explains Jeremy, "if you cut something, you kill it."
Masters at work: As well as crafting costumes to the exact demands of their entertainment industry clients, the tailors at Angels are also adept at altering costumes so they can be worn again and again by people of all shapes and sizes. The key is to hide the fabric, rather than removing it. Explains Jeremy, "if you cut something, you kill it."
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Aladdin's Cave: </strong>The Hendon warehouse is a treasure trove of garments suitable for dressing TV and movie casts for any scenario at any period of time.
Aladdin's Cave: The Hendon warehouse is a treasure trove of garments suitable for dressing TV and movie casts for any scenario at any period of time.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Out of this world: </strong>As rail 8B demonstrates, Angels serves costume needs both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial.
Out of this world: As rail 8B demonstrates, Angels serves costume needs both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Angels' wings: </strong>As well as celestial creations like these, there's an ecclesiastical section which Jeremy Angel describes as "a lovely place where you can have Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Christians all hanging next to each other very happily."
Angels' wings: As well as celestial creations like these, there's an ecclesiastical section which Jeremy Angel describes as "a lovely place where you can have Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Christians all hanging next to each other very happily."
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Crowns:</strong> Crowns are just some of the elaborate headwear found in a storage room filled with headdresses, tiaras and judges' wigs.
Crowns: Crowns are just some of the elaborate headwear found in a storage room filled with headdresses, tiaras and judges' wigs.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Military:</strong> Angels has a huge collection of military and service uniforms from around the world, from soldiers to nurses to traffic wardens. As they are authentic copies in every detail, these are not made available for public hire.
Military: Angels has a huge collection of military and service uniforms from around the world, from soldiers to nurses to traffic wardens. As they are authentic copies in every detail, these are not made available for public hire.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Award-winning:</strong> Angels has supplied costumes for 37 films that have won Oscars for Best Costume Design, including "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dr Zhivago." Last year, Angels received a BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Award-winning: Angels has supplied costumes for 37 films that have won Oscars for Best Costume Design, including "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dr Zhivago." Last year, Angels received a BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>Poppy the dog:</strong> Famous actors often visit Hendon for fitting and, if you go on one of their weekday tours, you may just be lucky enough to see one. Jeremy Angel recalls the time his dog Poppy, pictured, threw herself at a much smaller dog owned by Glenn Close -- who once played notorious dog-hater Cruella De Vil.
Poppy the dog: Famous actors often visit Hendon for fitting and, if you go on one of their weekday tours, you may just be lucky enough to see one. Jeremy Angel recalls the time his dog Poppy, pictured, threw herself at a much smaller dog owned by Glenn Close -- who once played notorious dog-hater Cruella De Vil.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>'Shakespeare in Love':</strong> Judi Dench wore this spectacular gown for her eight-minute performance as Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love," for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
'Shakespeare in Love': Judi Dench wore this spectacular gown for her eight-minute performance as Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love," for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
'Doctor Who': This ensemble was worn by the fourth incarnation of the BBC TV character Doctor Who, played by Tom Baker between 1974 and 1981. As the longest-lived incarnation, this Doctor is a fan favorite.
'Doctor Who': This ensemble was worn by the fourth incarnation of the BBC TV character Doctor Who, played by Tom Baker between 1974 and 1981. As the longest-lived incarnation, this Doctor is a fan favorite.
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them': </strong>The Harry Potter franchise won its first ever Oscar in 2017 when Colleen Atwood picked up the Best Costume Design award for her work on "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them': The Harry Potter franchise won its first ever Oscar in 2017 when Colleen Atwood picked up the Best Costume Design award for her work on "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
Sarah Tilotta for CNN
<strong>'Dunkirk': </strong>Drawing on its unrivaled archive of military uniforms from around the world, Angels supplied costumes for the supporting cast of Christopher Nolan's 2017 hit "Dunkirk."
'Dunkirk': Drawing on its unrivaled archive of military uniforms from around the world, Angels supplied costumes for the supporting cast of Christopher Nolan's 2017 hit "Dunkirk."
Sarah Tilotta for CNN