Blue/black vs. white/gold dress that split internet turns 10

February 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of one of the internet's most captivating visual phenomena: the blue and black or white and gold dress.

- Background -

This intriguing debate began in February 2015, a week before a wedding in Scotland. The bride's mother, Cecilia Bleasdale, snapped a photograph of a dress intending to wear it to the wedding. The dress was actually blue with black lace, but when Grace received the photo, she saw it as white with gold lace.

Grace's post on Facebook quickly sparked a heated debate among her friends, who also disagreed on the dress's colors. Some saw it as white with gold, while others insisted it was blue with black.

A few days after the wedding, a family friend reposted the image to her blog on Tumblr, further fueling public discourse surrounding the dress.

The image quickly went viral, with millions of users sharing their perceptions and arguing over whether the dress was blue and black or white and gold. The debate divided friends, families, and even celebrities, prompting discussions about human perception, color theory, and the science of vision.

As the phenomenon spread, it drew the attention of scientists and psychologists who sought to understand the reasons behind the differing perceptions. Experts explained that the color of the dress appeared to change based on individual differences in lighting perception and color constancy.

The viral sensation also sparked a wave of memes and parodies, cementing its place in internet history. It inspired numerous discussions about optical illusions and cognitive science, demonstrating how a simple photograph could lead to widespread fascination and debate.

- So what is the actual color? -

The dress in question was identified as a royal blue "Lace Bodycon Dress" from the retailer Roman Originals. Although it was confirmed to be blue and black, it was also available in three other colors: red, pink, and ivory, each featuring black lace.

Notably, a white and gold version was not produced at that time. However, following the viral Tumblr post, Roman Originals saw an unprecedented spike in website traffic, leading to the dress selling out in just 30 minutes. Subsequently, the retailer announced they would create a single white and gold dress for a Comic Relief charity auction.

By March 1, a BuzzFeed poll revealed that over two-thirds of respondents believed the dress to be white and gold. Some viewers even speculated that the dress appeared to change colors on its own.

Media outlets noted that the photo's overexposure and poor white balance contributed to the washing out of colors, leading many to perceive the dress as white and gold.

But regardless of what the official color is, what colors do you see?