The 2013 Color of the Year is emerald green, says the Pantone Color Institute, the arbiter of fashionable hues.  It’s an elegant, retro pick, a color that is associated with harmony and good fortune.

“Green is the most abundant hue in nature — the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says in a statement. “It’s also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity — no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.”

Emerald also makes a vibrant color companion to Tangerine Tango, the perky orange that is 2012’s top color, as shown in trendy designs by Chella Textiles, Pearson Furniture & Fabrics, York Wallcoverings and other producers.

Already, we are seeing green gowns on the red carpet, sported by Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones. JCPenney rolls out emerald towels and bedding in February. And Sephora also will show makeup in the new hue.

Expect to see green ties before St. Patrick’s Day, along with emerald polos and pullovers for guys. For the fashion-forward guy, leave a green sweater under the tree.

Still, not everyone is climbing aboard the Green Machine. Sherwin-Williams has named Aloe, a soft blue with a 1950s vibe, as its 2013 pick. And Benjamin Moore is serving up Lemon Sorbet.