All eras are good, there are iconic styles from every decade. When deciding on what to sell in your store or web site, avoid pieces that will likely not stand the test of time. Specifically those with exaggerated details, which are normally only quick trends.

Check for quality, just because it looks good in a picture, doesn’t mean it is well made. Even without checking a label, I can often tell who the designer is by the quality of the clothing. Even if an item is not a well known designer, the quality of the clothing can make it as valuable as if it was.

Finally do your homework on the many different textiles used to produce clothing. With the internet at your finger tips, you should be able to get a good sense of the value of the item.  Ask your clothing wholesaler for information on the apparel you are looking at, be an informed seller.

Pay attention to what celebrities are caught wearing in candid photos. Even if you don’t read the tabloids, pick up a copy of the juiciest gossip magazine you can find and skim through it! Most of them have pages of pictures in which celebrities are caught living their day-to-day lives, and that includes wearing every day clothes and not the ridiculous fashions they wear while they’re in the spotlight. Your average woman is not going to buy something that was seen on a catwalk or red carpet; she’s going to want something far more toned down.

Take a walk through your local mall and check out what the mannequins are dressed in through the windows of trendy shops. The stores put them in those clothes for a reason; to tell them what to buy.  Even if women don’t go in the store and buy those outfits, they have been given the idea that those are the styles they should be buying and wearing so if you offer them those same types of clothes at a lower price, chances are you’ll be the one selling the product.

Most importantly, find a clothing wholesaler who carries up-to-date fashions! Browsing through some wholesalers’ websites, I found that many of them sell styles that even my grandmothers know are not fashionable anymore. Some wholesalers will do their fashion research and keep their stock up-to-date, making it so much easier for their customers to pick out their product. I found that Clothing Showroom keeps very current and has an extremely wide selection of Wholesale Apparel fashions to choose from.

So remember to keep your eyes open for new trends and, unless you’re a fashion diva yourself, don’t buy what YOU would wear, buy what’s in style! Happy wholesaling!

In Europe, women have been wearing large, slouchy scarves for as long as I can remember.  Perhaps the climate in some parts of Europe is more appropriate for wearing these kinds of scarves.  If you live in an area that’s hot and humid in the summertime, you should stick with wearing scarves in the spring, fall, and winter.  In cooler climates, however, a scarf can be a year-round fashion accessory that also helps to keep you cozy and warm.

Scarves are useful fashion items because they can add personality and pizazz to even the simplest of outfits.  Celebs like Jessica Alba, the Olsen twins, and Cameron Diaz pull the scarf look off very well.  Although celebs are obsessed with scarves made my top designers and brands, you can easily find scarves of a similar style at a lower price.

Different scarf styles that celebs love include extra long scarves, super skinny scarves, accent scarves, prayer scarves, and keffiyehs.  An extra long scarf paired with a blazer and skinny jeans is perfect for achieving the casual chic look.  Skinny scarves are ideal for cool fall weather because they fight off the cool breezes without overwhelming you with warmth.  Accent scarves are made of light material and are suitable for people who live in warm climates.  In warm areas, such as Southern California, celebs don’t actually NEED scarves, so they wear accent scarves to make a fashion statement.

Lately, celebs are into Hindu and Buddhist prayer scarves.  The spiritual fad has been big in Hollywood for the past few years.  Prayer scarves are traditional shawls or cloths that have mantras or prayers imprinted on them.  Keffiyehs are traditional headdresses worn by Arabs and Muslims.  Although a popular fashion item, keffiyehs have also generated a lot of controversy because they have come to represent Islamic militancy.

The great thing about scarves is that they are very versatile.  Celebs have been spotted wearing scarves not only around their necks, but also on their shoulders, around their heads, and around their waists as belts.  A scarf can actually make your waist look smaller if you drape it around your hips.  When worn on your head, a scarf can protect your hair from the dust and wind.

To be ready for any occasion, make sure you have fleece, pashmina, silk, and cashmere scarves in your wardrobe.  Pashmina, cashmere, and fleece scarves are ideal for wearing in the wintertime because they keep you very warm.  Silk scarves have a light, luxurious feel and are perfect for the spring or summer.  Silk scarves, however, cannot be tied around your head or waist because they slip off too easily.  Woven scarves made of raw silk boast rustic appeal and go great with any casual outfit.

Have any great scarf fashion tips you’d like to share with us?  If so, please leave a comment!

Choosing a Handbag that Suits Your Physique

Use a process of elimination when shopping for handbags so you know which styles of handbags definitely won’t look right on you.  Generally, the best handbag shapes for your body are ones that contrast your body shape.  So, if have a curvacious figure, you’ll want to use a bag with a sleek shape rather than a round, bulky purse, and if you’re tall and thin, you’ll want to avoid purses with geometric shapes and instead opt for round purses that complement your figure.

Furthermore, the handbag you choose should be proportionate to the size of your body.  If you’re very tall, wearing a teeny tiny handbag will look silly, just as it would if a gal with a petite figure wore a massive, oversized purse.  If you have a petite figure and you need a bag with more space, use a tote style bag or long clutch.  If you’re short, you can give yourself a taller appearance by carrying a tote purse with a long shoulder strap.

If you have a large bust, avoid wearing a short handled purse that rests at the armpit because it will bring attention to your bust.  Purses with long straps are a better choice for busty women who want to avoid accentuating their busts, which probably already get enough unwanted attention anyway.  If you want to bring attention to your shapely waist, wear a purse that has a long shoulder strap and sits at your waist.

Handbag Fashion Tips

When shopping for handbags, only purchase handbags in timeless styles.  Unlike shirts, pants, and other articles of clothing in your wardrobe, you probably won’t accumulate dozens of handbags.  Two or three handbags is usually enough.  So, make sure to select handbag styles that will go with a variety of outfits and combine well with your day-to-day essentials.

Choose a handbag that goes with your wallet, watch, belt, shoes, or other accessories when putting an outfit together.  You can also wear a handbag with fasteners and other hardware that matches your jewelery.  Traditionally, women match the primary or secondary color of their top, bottom, or dress with their handbag.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try carrying a handbag made of animal print fabric.  Animal prints offer a timeless look that’s hear to stay, whether you choose a handbag with zebra, leopard, tiger, or reptile skin print.  Animal print handbags enable you to reveal your wild side to others and serve as a fun accessory that goes very well with a variety of outfits.

If you love the elegant look of a clutch but can’t stand how a traditional clutch barely holds more than your keys and a wad of cash, then you’ll love the look and feel of an oversized clutch.  Oversized clutches are a mainstay on the red carpet.  Celebrities and commoners alike love oversized clutches because they fit all of your essentials while maintaining the elegant, minimalist look of traditional clutches.

If you want to keep older trends alive, consider carrying a retro style handbag made of patent leather or metro print.  An easy way to add a splash of color to your outfit and make a bold fashion statement is to carry a brightly colored handbag.  Bright, solid colors and bright prints can really tie an outfit together, especially if your outfit is slightly dull and needs a hint of pizzazz.

Tired of wearing the same, standard jackets over and over?  Add some pizazz to your wardrobe with a blazer or cropped jacket.  Once an ubiquitous male fashion item, blazers have gradually made their way into the female wardrobe.  A blazer can pull any outfit together, even if you just wear it with a pair of jeans and flats.  Blazers also make great office wear because they have such a polished look.  Blazers are a great wardrobe investment because they are very versatile, and they probably won’t be going out of fashion anytime soon.  You can find pinstripe, plaid, oversized, cropped, 3/4-length sleeved blazers.

Cropped jackets offer women a shortcut to looking fabulous.  Like blazers, cropped jackets flatter a variety of figures.  They are available in a number of different colors, styles, and lengths.  Most cropped jackets are cropped at the natural waist, but some are cropped even higher.  Jackets cropped higher than the natural waist are great for layering and look great on women with long torsos because they lengthen the appearance of your legs and shorten the appearance of your torso.

Blazers and cropped jackets are perfect for the spring and fall, when you need an extra layer or two, and a cardigan just doesn’t cut it.  Both look great layered so if there’s a bit of a breeze, you can add a cute blouse underneath to stay warm.

Tips for Wearing Blazers and Cropped Jackets

Both blazers and cropped jackets come in a variety of different styles and fabrics, enabling you to achieve a number of unique looks.  Wear them with a pair of jeans for a casual day, with tailored trousers for the office, or with a dress for a night out.  To achieve a look that’s subtle yet sophisticated, blazers and cropped jackets in neutral tones are ideal.  If you’re going for a more bold look, wear jackets with colorful patterns.

Layer your cropped jacket or blazer with an elegant blouse, camisole, or fitted tee that ends at the hip.  Bottoms that go well with cropped blazers and jackets include jeans, baggy trousers, and ankle-skimming pants.  When you wear a cropped jacket or blazer with jeans, slip on a pair of platforms to complete the look. A cropped jacket or blazer and ankle-skimming pants look perfect with a pair of flats.  If you wear a dress for a night out on the town, you can cover yourself up and stay warm without sacrificing chic by topping your dress off with a blazer.

When you pair a dress with a blazer or cropped jacket, don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors.  Matching colors can result in a boring look.  For example, you can wear a black and white dress with a bold, red blazer instead of the usual black or white blazer.

For a unique suit that’s perfect for spring, pair a cropped jacket or blazer with a pair of shorts.  Wear a cropped jacket with a ruffled blouse and a pair of platform heels for an elegant yet casual look that’s perfect for a lunch date.  Combine rolled up khaki shorts, a neutral colored crop jacket, and a pair of gladiator sandals for a breezy, laid back outfit that’s perfect for a beachy afternoon.

When it comes to skirts, cropped jackets and blazers go perfectly with skirts of just about any length, from micro minis to long prarie skirts.  If you wear a pencil skirt with a cropped jacket or blazer that is cropped well above the waist, use a wide belt to complete the look.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonated/3307577918/

Whether you want to look fashionable while you get a workout or you simply want to feel comfortable as you go about your day, the latest trends in active wear, which is also known as “sweat couture,” will help you look and feel your best.  If you’ve just jumped onto the fitness bandwagon, there’s no better way to motivate yourself to work out than with flattering, fashionable active wear.  In fact, according to research, 28% of women buy a new, sporty outfit when they join a fitness club.

The Yoga Trend

In the fitness world, yoga, pilates, and kickboxing classes are driving bottoms trends.  Active wear bottoms that are comfortable, roomy, and stretchy are all the rage for women taking these popular fitness classes.  Typically, these bottoms are boot cut, capri, or flood length and have drawstring or low-rise waists.

The yoga-style active wear trend is here to stay because it’s stylish and the clothing is looser fitting than the tight spandex and lycra active wear that was commonly seen in the past.  Many women want to get fit, but they feel self-conscious shopping at the store for active wear that is tight in all the wrong places.  Not only is yoga active wear comfortable and roomy, it is highly fashionable and covers up just enough so you don’t feel self-conscious.  Even women who don’t do yoga or go to the gym can wear yoga active wear in daily life and look fabulous.

Other Core Active Wear Essentials

In addition to yoga pants, some core essentials in the women’s active wear department include retro-style track suits, bike shorts, capris, sports bras, and a variety of different tops.  Today’s active wear is very versatile and can be combined with high fashion clothing items to suit a wider variety of occasions.  For example, you can pair a zip jacket from a track suit with high fashion denim to create a perfect outfit for a night on the town.  Yoga pants or pants from a track suit are perfect for a day of relaxing and lounging around.

The active wear of today is far more feminine-looking and flattering than the gym clothing women used to wear in the past.  Many women who have no interest in fitness are wearing active wear simply because it looks and feels good.  Active wear is available in a variety of materials, depending on the season.  For example, velour is appropriate for winter, while in the summer months, active wear made of light terry cloth or cotton with a little spandex is the most comfortable.

Active wear trends stem less from the athletic world and more from whatever the celebrities are wearing.  Many women are inspired by the casual active wear seen in movies and on celebrity gossip blogs and magazines.  Nowadays, you can find everyone from glitzy celebrities to soccer moms in active wear.

Sweatpants and clothing once only suitable for the gym or a lazy day at home are now widely accepted as couture.  It’s a fun trend that’s refreshing, particularly for women who are tired of waddling around in uncomfortable heels and not being able to breathe in tight skinny jeans for the sake of being fashionable.

High fashion active wear shows that the gym is far from being the only place that’s appropriate for wearing a tracksuit.  The essence of active wear goes beyond aerobics class – it is an expression of an all-around style of living.   Thanks to the latest trends in sweat couture, there’s no longer a need to separate looking good from feeling good in fashion.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lululemonathletica/3953462717/

1. Yoga pants are one of the hottest pants trends out there.  You can wear yoga pants while you’re lounging around at home, studying, running errands, or out for a movie.  The yoga pants trend is one that most women have been happy to embrace because unlike a lot of clothing trends out there, yoga pants allow us to remain incredibly comfortable and there’s no need to waddle around in pants so tight that we can barely breathe!  Yoga pants come in a myriad of colors and styles.  You can find cropped yoga pants, yoga pants with pockets and compartments, plain yoga pants, yoga pants with draw strings, and yoga pants with logos.  Yoga pants practically feel like pajamas because they are so soft on the skin and comfortable.  Pair your yoga pants with a snazzy pair of sneakers or flip flops and a baby tee or sporty jacket.

2. Capri pants (pants distributors here) are a classic and universally popular fashion item for women.  They are flattering, comfortable, and can be worn casually or semi-formally.  Whether you need comfortable officewear or it’s simply too hot to wear pants, try out a pair of stylish capris.  Capris are much more flattering than shorts and they accentuate your calves and ankles.  Pair them with blouses, blazers, or knits to achieve a variety of looks.

3. Leggings were all over the dancefloor in the 80s and now they have come back in full force.  Leggings are comfortable, breathable, slimming, and versatile.  They especially come in handy as a transitional fashion item after summer when you still feel like sporting short skirts, dresses, and shorts, but the weather simply won’t permit you to do so comfortably.

4. Dressy shorts are cropping up everywhere, regardless of the occasion.  You’ll even find your favorite stars sporting shorts instead of skirts on the red carpet.  Dressy shorts look great with a pair of leggings and knee high boots or mid-calf uggs.  You can also pull off the dressy shorts look with a sexy pair of heels, or flats for a more casual flair.  However, you’ll probably want to avoid wearing dressy shorts if you have less-than-flattering legs because they are ultra-revealing.

5. If you’re looking for a quick fashion solution, look no further than a jumper/romper, which has made a huge comeback in fashion as of late.  Jumpers eliminate the need of having to select both a top and pants and they are easy to slip on.  Jumpers are flirty and come in various styles.  If you’re undecided about what to wear or you on a date and you want to look stylish and sexy, jumpers are the way to go.

*Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lululemonathletica/3966813374/