The Science Behind the Dress Illusion Eyepic Eye Care 10 years since THE DRESS blew up Internet. Two thirds of people saw white and gold. It's an optical illusion caused by weird lighting and an overexposed background. It Is actuallylly blue and black. #thedress The dress was a 2015 online viral phenomenon centred on a photograph of a dress. Viewers disagreed on whether the dress was blue and black, or white and gold : r wikipedia Rosetta Maxi Dress Gold Sparkle