Here is the official color of 2015 (in case you care about the color of 2015)

Everybody exhale! We now know the Pantone color of the year for 2015: Marsala. Every year the folks at the Pantone Color Institute consider colors from around the world, including fashion and entertainment industries and select an official hue for that calendar year. Last year it was radiant orchid, but for 2015,  the wine-based, shade Marsala promises to “drive us into embracing warmth.”

At least that’s what Pantone executive director Leatrice Eiseman thinks, anyway. She also says that the newly appointed shade, much like its namesake, will “embody the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness,” according to a press release. Lucky for us, this year’s selection is more universally appealing than previous years’ picks, so we can all give a heavy sigh of relief that we won’t have to buy into a terribly ugly color just to be on-trend.

While all this may seem arbitrary to you and me, it’s really not (entirely). The Pantone color of the year informs color choices in all the places in which we spend money.  Pantone expects the color, as it usually does, to “make its way into clothing collections, makeup, accessories and home furnishings.” In fact, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Marsala show up on the spring runways. This means, like it or not, Marsala is going to be in our lives for at least a year. If you need some nudging in the how-the-heck-do-I-wear-this department, visit Pantone’s guide to for inspiration. Or don’t and just keep on doing what you’re doing.

(Image via Pantone)