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 The Blue Black or White Gold Dress and Questioning Reality Psychology Today Internet debates that blue dress (it is blue, right?) The Seattle Times The Ultimate Guide to Black Tie Dresses for Women Jovani Blue and black or white and gold? A decade later, it turns out the ultra viral optical illusion dress was also a boon to scientific advancement. See link below