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 Royalty Free photo: Woman wearing white and gold colored sleeveless floor length dress PickPik How "The Dress" Became an Illusion Unlike Any Other Scientific American The True Color of White and Gold Dress (Or Blue and Black) Snickerdoodle Software