The actual dress was black and blue. The confusion came from how lighting and color perception tricked people's brains, making some see it as white and gold. It became a viral example The Science Behind the Dress The New York Times Juliet JT947L Short Cocktail Beaded Homecoming Fitted Dress Black 16 In 2015, a photograph of a dress went viral, dividing viewers over whether its colors were blue and black or white and gold. This optical illusion highlighted differences in human color perception Is this dress yellow and gold or blue and black?!