Green is the new tangerine.

I must hold some sort of authority over at Pantone, the trendsetter in color for the design industry, because in my Nov. 26 column, “Toxic, tempting fashion,” I said the 2012 color of the year should be Forest Green.  My dream is nearly coming true because Pantone announced Dec. 6 that the color of 2013 is emerald green.

It’s unlikely this magnificent jewel-tone will inspire the eco-conscious mindset in the fashion industry that I hope for, but if the color’s symbolism holds any truth, the New Year might be one of regeneration. I imagine this will pair nicely with the shifting of consciousness that comes with the impending apocalypse.

No one can deny the power of Pantone’s influence. Every year the company scours the globe in search of the next “it” color. Inspirations range from films and socioeconomic conditions to travel destinations and technology. In the next few months, we will see the 2013 color in makeup palettes, on clothing patterns and inside homes. The world will truly be taking a trip to the Emerald City.

“Green is the most abundant color in nature—the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, on the company’s website. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate.”

The Pantone press release said there will be an emerald-hued Sephora + Pantone Beauty Universe beauty and makeup collection released in spring, which Pantone says “beautifully enhances green eyes, is compatible to blue eyes, emphasizes the green undertone in hazel eyes and intensifies brown eyes to make them appear deeper.” Let’s just hope no one has the bright idea to wear green on their lips.

Designers Nanette Lepore and Marimekko will be using the sophisticated shade in their spring collections, according to Pantone, and it can be paired with almost any color on the spectrum. Just take my advice and avoid pairing it with vivid shades of pink, so as not to look like a watermelon—or even worse—a Floridian whose had a little too much sun.

I’m not sold on the idea of painting rooms in emerald green, or even having a few pieces of furniture in the color. It reminds me of those jarring, noxious colors the ’70s were so fond of, or the awful colors used in the carpets of state college dormitories. I simply just can’t picture it, but then again, I’m not an interior designer.

Admittedly, after all is said and done, I really don’t care what the trending color is. I’ll just wear my usual black because it matches my soul.