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 ELI5:Why does this dress appear white gold to some people and black blue to others? : r explainlikeimfive 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 The White and Gold (No, Blue and Black!) Dress That Melted the Internet The New York Times Rose Gold Prom Dresses