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 Dark Navy Prom Dresses JJ's House Off the Shoulder Blue Lace Layered Long Prom Dresses, Blue Lace Layere shegown Is The Dress blue and black or white and gold? The answer lies in vision psychology Psychology The Guardian