Wonder What Fabric Royalty Wore?

October is the month people are consumed with thoughts of what to wear for Halloween. Don't forget that dressing up isn't just for Americans one night a year! Royals, Heads of State, corporate CEO's, and even celebrities dress up for stately occasions all year long.

Aristocratic choices in both fabrics and jewels come and go through the years depending on fashion trends, but one thing remains: fashion is a strategic expression of culture, time, socioeconomic status, political activism, and competition. And so, in celebration of this costumed season, here are three royal fashion statements and a little history behind the vintage photos.

Queen Elizabeth II's wedding dress, 1927. Paid for with post-World War II rations, this ivory silk dress was adorned with 10,000 pearls, floral designs and a 15-foot train. According to Town & Country, it took 350 women seven weeks to make. Her crown was held in place by a silk tulle veil, which she accompanied with satin heels.

Have a dusty train on your wedding dress? Perhaps stained silk or satin shoes? Be sure to bring it in to your local Tide Cleaners for a treatment.

Male Royals at Court, early 1800s. There was a strict "uniform" expectation of British public officials while attending court in the 19th and 20thcenturies. Officials wore extravagant clothing items meant to flash and impress, such as coats and waistcoats that were heavily embroidered with gold or silver, and made of expensive materials such as richly decorated brocade, damask, silk or satin. Black shoes had buckles and court dress was accompanied by white silk stockings. To top it off, men wore the three-pointed opera or cocked hats. Even commoners were to appear in in a lesser- "dress," which happened to be velvet in the 1800s, thanks to the royal family and aristocrats who set the fashion expectations of the nation.

Cleaning ornate clothing adorned with jewels, beads and other embellishments can be a challenge. Lean on Tide Cleaners for a professional touch.

Marie Antoinette, 1780s. Known for her eccentric fashion and extravagant spending, this fashion legend and Austrian royal moved to France upon her marriage accompanied by 57 carriages, according to the Mayfair Gallery. Commissioning as many as 300 new dresses a year, she often matched her living quarters interior walls to the colors of her dresses. She is recognized as the first consumer of what we know today as haute couture, and oozed with today's high-fashion "creative freedom." From corsets and bustiers, to lace, silk and wildly ornate hairstyles, Marie pushed all boundaries when it came to style-particularly when choosing fashion over comfort.

Certainly, Marie Antoinette didn't clean party foibles from her delicate fabrics, and neither should you! Your special wear deserves special care from your high-quality Tide Cleaners.

Don't forget to rely on Tide Cleaners to care for all your royal looks! If you have fashionable wear that needs care, Tide Cleaners will get the job done right. Click here to see store hours for a one-on-one consultation.