You have just a few more weeks to enjoy your Honeysuckle. Tangerine is moving in. Pantone has declared that the colour of the year 2012 is Tangerine Tango. PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, to be specific, a “vivacious” and “enticing” reddish orange that’s “reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset.” Last year's PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle is so 2011.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Some very high-profile fashion designers are reported to be using it in their Spring lines—Tommy Hilfiger, Cynthia Steffe, Elie Tahari, Adrienne Vittadini and Nanette Lepore, to name a few.

As well, Pantone is joining up with the French cosmetics brand Sephora to create a limited edition line of eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss, nail polish and accessories in the hot new colour. "These products allow for on-trend, uninhibited expression, while being exceptionally wearable," Sephora PRO's lead artist Gilbert Soliz explained.

The Pantone people say that this colour will be “a winner” in cosmetics because of its versatility and exoticism, “but in a very friendly, non-threatening way.” An “unexpected” eye shadow color, Tangerine Tango is a complementary opposite that flatters blue or green eyes. When paired with brown eyes, it brings out an amber cast, says Pantone.

Energize your interior spaces with a "pop" of Tangerine Tango.

As for your home, this colour will “energize” interior spaces. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Used in appliances and personal electronics, Tangerine Tango gives an unexpected “pop” of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.

And how does PANTONE decide on its colour of the year? Selection is “a very thoughtful process,” the company says. They comb the world for color influences—the entertainment industry, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.