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 How does a black and blue dress sometimes appear white and gold? The Brains Blog In 2015, a photograph of a dress went viral, dividing viewers over whether its colors were blue and black or white and gold. This optical illusion highlighted differences in human color perception How "The Dress" Became an Illusion Unlike Any Other Scientific American 10 years ago, a simple photograph of a dress sparked a global debate unlike anything seen online before. Posted in 2015, the image caused people to argue intensely over whether the dress Blue black or white gold? The dress debate is over