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 How to see The Dress BOTH ways (Black & Blue or White & Gold) Toy Life Is that dress blue & black or white & gold? Matilda's Lab 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 Men's Black Shiny Printed Button Up Long Sleeve Dress Shirt Black 2X Is This Dress Blue And Black Or White And Gold? News9.com