Color scientists explain the dress that went viral RIT The dress was a viral online phenomenon in 2015, centered on a photograph of a dress that people disagreed on whether it was blue and black or white and gold. Within a 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 Long Black Prom Dress with Contrasting Beads PromGirl Black Hot Pink XSmall