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 Science Behind the Black and Blue (or White and Gold) Dress U.S. NAVY FEMALE OFFICER SERVICE DRESS BLUE UNIFORM Linen Three Quarter Sleeve Maxi Shirt Dress Navy Boston Proper WIDE LEG TROUSERS WITH CREASES LEMKI color NAVY BLUE The Science of Why No One Agrees on the Color of This Dress WIRED