What Color is The DRESS? Optical Illusion Explained How "The Dress" Became an Illusion Unlike Any Other Scientific American 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 Is That Dress White and Gold or Blue and Black? The New York Times Viral Blue Or Gold Purple Yellow Dress Illusion In 2015, A Photo Of A Dress Went Viral Blue and Black or White and Gold dress marks 10 years