Ken Downing, Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus, selected green as his top color for Fall 2012 – and he may have been using a crystal ball. Announced just days ago, the Pantone Color Institute named Emerald Green its “2013 Color of the Year.” The hue emerges as the top pick from the coming year’s palette of sherbet colors and brights (pictured below), reported here at DFW Style Daily on November 13th.   Leatrice Eiseman, the Institute’s Executive Director explains how this decision is made:   “Twice a year the company hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year.”     As with each year’s top choice, this color will influence heavily the textiles industry, from home goods and décor to fashion design. But for retail buyers everywhere, the decision will be, How much green is a good thing?    Of note, last year’s winner, Tangerine Tango, was a hit in the marketplace.   From casual to couture, Pantone notes influential designers’ collections filled with Emerald Green, including Tracy Reese (sketch shown at top) and Nanette Lepore. It can be an intimidating color to wear head-to-toe, however, and our opinion is that aqua and mint are good fits to compliment and quiet, if one so desires.   While Emerald shines, we conclude with a prediction that that the ‘sleeper’ hot color for Spring and Summer 2013 will be Monaco Blue.     Lead image, credit Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com; Inset images via Pantone.com.