The ideal software is the one that you like. I use Carrara and Hexaxon here, but I also have Lightwave 9.6
The users that can afford like Modo, and I will point it as the best modeler out there, but you dont need a lot of tools to work in cloths and things like that, so Carrara is OK.

ZBrush and 3D Coat count as fine detail software, but yes you can model right in both also. Its your choice. Try them to see what is better and more confortable to you.

Even the free Wings3D can do the job, but you need to know all the tools from any of them to start.

This is only for modeling things, dont matter what is, cloth, hair, propers.

Time to port to Poser or Daz Studio, here we will need a set of other tools and knowledge. Here at Renderosity you can find a lot fo tutorials about creating your first shirt, skirt and other things.

But here are some tutorials that will help you a lot to star:

http://www.runtimedna.com/Modeling-with-Littlefox-Part-Collection1.html

http://www.daz3d.com/shop/utilities-resources/tutorials/classic-bikini/

http://www.daz3d.com/shop/utilities-resources/tutorials/genesis-starter-kit/

Lady LittleFox is a great creator but show things using Modo, and the other two are more easy to follow and use Hexagon.

You also can use more easy tools like CCT from DazStudio to transfer things in a very easy way to Poser, creating almost realtime cloth in Daz Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7abESLvn0yg

Blackhearted use ZBrush to create morphs. Morphs are the same mesh from Victoria or another character that you load at ZBrush or other modeler and change its shape, them save again to create a new character. The rig is already done, you can paint the maps (textures and other things to it)...

Some morphs sold here and other stores are created using the dials only.

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