The 2009 Color of the Year

While we're not sure what other colors were nominated, we do have a winner. The envelope please"¦

"¦ and the award goes to 14-0848 Mimosa! (rejoicing, cheering, fist pumping!)

Well, at least according to Pantone, the creators of the famous Pantone Matching System, or PMS for those in the know. The standard little book in "˜fan' format was developed in 1963 by Lawrence Herbert, Pantone's founder, as a way of matching and communicating colors accurately, something very important in the graphic arts arena.

The Color of the Year award was first given out in 1999, when Pantone announced cerulean blue as the Color of the Millennium. Then, in 2007, they turned it into a regular feature, naming chili pepper the winner, and in 2008, blue iris.

As for this year's winner, here's the reasoning behind the choice, taken straight from Pantone's Web site:

Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow, [is] the color of the year for 2009. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow. "The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation." Best illustrated by the abundant flowers of the Mimosa tree and the sparkle of the brilliantly hued cocktail, the 2009 color of the year represents the hopeful and radiant characteristics associated with the color yellow. Mimosa is a versatile shade that coordinates with any other color, has appeal for men and women, and translates to both fashion and interiors. Look for women's accessories, home furnishings, active sportswear and men's ties and shirts in this vibrant hue.