Black & Gold Floral Swing Dress Unique Vintage Science explains how time spent outdoors colors your view of #thedress Los Angeles Times 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 Here's why people saw the dress differently. I've been thinking about "the dress" for 10 years. Here's what I've learned.