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.

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/

Select the Right Demographic

The three most popular areas in clothing sales are men’s, women’s, and children’s.  Women are a profitable demographic because they are always looking for something new when it comes to clothing.  Women like to stay on top of trends so by ensuring that your store includes the latest, most fashionable tops for women, you will be several steps ahead of your competitors.

Variety is the Spice of Wholesale Top Shopping

When shopping for tops wholesale, you will want to select a varied range of top styles to ensure that you meet the needs of all customers and seasons.  Some important styles of tops that you should probably carry include camisoles, tank tops, blouses, halter tops, and t-shirts.

Do Your Research

Research the tops you want to buy wholesale.

This will help you come across as being a professional and serious buyer in the eyes of wholesalers.  It’s always a good idea to gain the respect of wholesalers because then they are more likely to give you special pricing and deals.  Furthermore, it is important to research the products you sell as a retailer because you should have excellent knowledge of the products you carry so you can answer any potential questions your customers ask.

Get Tops in a Wide Range of Sizes

Your customers probably come in all shapes and sizes so make sure to select an inventory of tops that consist of a vast range of sizes.  Junior, Petite, Misses, Women’s and Plus Size are some of the varieties of clothing sizes available for women.  Junior sizes are for younger women and are thus slimmer in the bust.  Petite sizes are for women under 5’4″ tall and Plus sizes are for larger sized women.  Misses sizes are meant for young women with a slender frame while Women’s sizes are meant for older women with a more shapely figure.

Ask for Discounts for bulk clothing

Ask the wholesaler you’re working with if they have any stock that is taking a while to sell.  You may be able to get a very attractive discount on stock that is moving slowly.  Just remember that you must be able to sell the stock so there should still be a market for the product.  If there is no market for it, you won’t make any profit, no matter how cheap you sell it!

Quality Matters

When choosing tops for your store, make sure you find a wholesaler that provides high quality tops at a reasonable price.  If you provide your customers with tops of excellent quality, they are far more likely to become repeat customers.