A Halloween visit to the world’s biggest and oldest costume house

Maureen O'Hare
By Maureen O'Hare, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 8:02 AM EDT, Thu October 26, 2017
<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