The Science Behind the Dress The New York Times The dress turned 11 and it's STILL white and gold PERIOD. Eleven years later the color swatches are right there and people who see blue and black are proving your eyes lie Is it white and gold or blue and black? The truth behind the dress debate. CooperVision Feel Fabulous in AMARRA's Strapless Dresses AMARRA 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