I am not sure where the information for this story was obtained (article, website, or person), so I do not know who is at fault, but the body types that were described have some serious errors. Although Curvy could in fact be like an apple, the body type described in your article is generally referred to as an apple or oval shape. The Pear shape, however, is the one with the larger issue. You wrote, "This body type is shaped more like an hourglass. The hips and shoulders are well balanced and have a well-defined waistline." Generally, that shape is called an hourglass shape, sometimes curvy, but never, never pear-shaped. Have you actually looked at a pear? A pear is heavy on the bottom, narrow on the top, more like a triangle. There are some fabulous books available that cover this topic much more thoroughly. Also, the pattern company, Vogue, uses body types to indicate which designs would be most flattering on a body. As a designer, it is crucial for me to identify body types before I begin a design, so that the finished product is flattering to the person who will wear it. There are also some fabulous websites out there that will provide additional information on the various body types. If you obtained the information from Shape magazine, you probably should have double checked that information.