Nothing I ever find in any store fits me just right: I have to have my necklines tailored, my waistbands nipped in, my hems shortened and my boots stretched. And I wish, just once, that I could find one darned piece of clothing (just one!) that fits perfectly. It seems everything was designed for a woman who's 5 feet 9 inches tall and a size 2 (definitely not me!). But it turns out, the right clothing does exist: You just need to know how (and where) to find it--why we're introducing two new columns in Shape this month. The first, Fashion Q & A (page 92), answers your most pressing questions about what to wear to flatter your figure, and the second, Fashion Workbook (page 96), identifies--and solves--the most frustrating shopping dilemmas. This month, we focus on finding jeans that really fit. (I, along with almost every Shape staffer of different body types, weighed in after trying on different styles.)

So why focus so much on fashion--and particularly in this issue, which is our first-ever fashion and beauty special? Because we know, after talking with you, our readers, that 96 percent of us work out to get healthy, stay slim and feel better about ourselves, yes, but also to look fabulous in our clothes. The bottom line is that we can eat the healthiest of foods, exercise until our feel-good hormones are on overdrive and take diligent care of our well-being, but if we're dressed in unflattering clothes that don't fit right, our self-esteem will still take a hit. Our fashion philosophy at Shape is to give you the tools (through our tip-driven columns) and the inspiration you need (see our fashion special, "A New York State of Mind," page 208) to show off what you've worked (or are working) so hard for. Consider it retail therapy--for body and soul.

THE SHOCKING TRUTH I LEARNED THIS MONTH

In 1950, the average dress size in America was a size 8. Today, it's a size 14. America's girth is increasing dramatically; in fact, at the rate we're going, some experts think everyone in the United States will be overweight or obese by the year 2030. But this doesn't mean that you (or anyone you know) has to follow suit. Read, rip out and share "Why We're Gaining Weight--and How to Stop it Now," page 182, for simple ways to win the war on fat, for good.

VALERIE LATONA, EDITOR IN CHIEF

VALERIE@SHAPE.COM