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 Viral online dress debate turns 10. What colours do you see? In February 2015, a photo of a striped dress posted online unexpectedly turned into a worldwide argument. Some viewers swore it was blue and black, while others were convinced it was white Happy 10th anniversary to the original photograph of "The Dress" and the subsequent internet debate over white and gold or black and blue : r popculturechat You Can Now Buy 'The Dress' In Either Blue And Black Or White And Gold