“Now that we’re into the shoulder season of September,” the TV meteorologist announces, “you could expect summer weather to linger, but bring a sweater, just in case.”
Where does that expression shoulder season come from? It’s certainly not a weather term. Nor is it a travel term, yet it’s used to advertise cruises and travel junkets in the fall and spring.
I decided to do some research. In the travel business, the definition of shoulder season varies by destination, but it typically means that period of time between a region’s peak season and offseason. This timespan can last months or just weeks. “For instance, if a place’s peak season is summer and its offseason is winter, then the shoulder season would be spring and fall.” —Nerd Wallet, Aug 17, 2023.
The travel industry claims that the term “shoulder season” originated from the concept of the “shoulder” on a bell curve, which represents the period between the peak and off-peak seasons. During the peak season, travel and tourism are at their highest, while during the off-peak season, they are at their lowest.
In the short-term house rental business, shoulder season months are often the best times to offer discounts and deals on vacation rental homes to encourage traveling during the months that many families stay home. For most regions, the shoulder months include March, April, September, October, and November.
Why Is It Called Shoulder Season?
There are two theories as to where the term originated. The first is that the spring and fall climates, usually labeled as shoulder seasons, are not warm enough to wear t-shirts but not cool enough to wear coats. A light shawl or scarf is wrapped around the shoulders during these seasons. The second theory is that because winter and summer are considered “head seasons,” fall and spring are the shoulders since they fall on each side of the head months, much like how literal shoulders are located on each side of a head.
When I was a schoolgirl in the Midwest during the fifties, spring shoulder season meant that you could bare your shoulders or wear a sleeveless blouse without being called a floozy. And after Easter, you could wear white shoes. But after Labor Day, another shoulder season, you had to pack those sleeveless tops and return to dark-colored shoes.
My research proved that the term did originate in the fashion industry. (In this case, my memory served me well.) A quick check shows that the term is still in vogue. An outdoor magazine called Outside says:
“It’s the season of cozy beanies, sweaters, classic flannels and wear-with-anything-jeans. Here we present the latest autumn styles to keep you outfitted through shoulder season, no matter how you spend your day.”
Now, the seasons serve as a global metronome for the worldwide fashion business, defining the speed and time for developing, marketing, and selling new collections.
Yet, even with all the changes, the old etiquette rule from the early 1900s about wearing white mostly between Memorial Day and Labor Day still persists. I found that the tried-and-true Farmers’ Almanac has weighed in on the wearing-white Labor Day debate! The Almanac reports that white linens and lighter fabrics were associated with the wealthy society’s summertime excursions to seaside locations. So, continuing to wear white after returning from vacation was considered rude or a way to “show off.” By the 1950s, this thinking had trickled down to the middle class, with help from women’s magazines. The only one who dared break the rule was Coco Chanel.
About the Author: Lois and Günter Hofmann lived their dream by having a 43-foot ocean-going catamaran built for them in the south of France and sailing around the world. Learn more about their travel adventures by reading Lois’s award-winning nautical adventure trilogy. Read more about Lois and her adventures at her website and stay in touch with Lois by liking her Facebook page. Lois’s books can be purchased from PIP Productions on Amazon and on her website.
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