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 How "The Dress" Became an Illusion Unlike Any Other Scientific American Toddler Girls Sleeveless Metallic Gold Jacquard Woven Dress WHITE The Children's Place Is The Dress blue and black or white and gold? The answer lies in vision psychology Psychology The Guardian