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 Why did some people see a gold and white dress? Our Brain The dress was a viral online phenomenon in 2015, centered on a photograph of a dress that people disagreed on whether it was blue and black or white and gold. Within a Is it white and gold or blue and black? The truth behind the dress debate. CooperVision