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 A decade ago, The Dress united and divided us. It couldn't happen now. Poynter This explains how the blue black white gold dress illusion was possible. But it doesn't explain why some people saw it one way and some saw it the other, and no one seemed to see Blue black or white gold? The dress debate is over Is This Dress Blue And Black Or White And Gold? Here's What The Experts Say