Optical illusion with iconic dress reignites as people still can't agree on its colour

An infamous online debate has been re-sparked thanks to an optical illusion shared on social media.

In February 2015, the was obsessed with a after it was shared on social media with a caption asking people to determine its colour. It went viral after the lighting in the image of the dress caused many people to see it as white and gold.

The baffling phenomenon divided people, with the internet split firmly into two categories - #blackandblue and #whiteandgold - and the dress even went on to become the subject of scientific investigation.

It all began when Alana MacInnes, of Uist, and Caitlin McNeill, from Colonsay, called for perspective on Tumblr about whether the dress was, in fact, gold and white, or blue and black.

Ms MacInnes took the photo of the infamous dress, while Ms McNeill posted it on social media and asked her followers: “Guys please help me - is this dress white and gold, or blue and black? Me and my friends can't agree and we are freaking... out.”

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Instead of getting quick answers, the duo divided the globe and the debate spread like wildfire. The topic was mused all over the world, with fashion bloggers weighing in, as well as journalists at the , Buzzfeed, the Washington Post, US magazine Wired, and many more.

On X, formerly known as , several viral hashtags caught on, with #TheDress claiming the top spot. Professors chimed in with scientific analysis of the phenomenon, and celebrities were keen to offer their views too.

American actress and writer Mindy Kaling tweeted: “IT'S A BLUE AND BLACK DRESS!” To which, Academy Award winning actress Julianne Moore replied: “@mindykaling @bjnovak what's the matter with you guys, it's white and gold."

When tweeted she saw the dress as blue and black and confessed to feeling “confused and scared”, it was retweeted 111,134 times and liked 154,188 times. The outfit even has its own detailed Wikipedia page.

Now, the debate has resurfaced thanks to a video on popular social media platform TikTok. The video, posted by creator , details why the dress warped so many perspectives. Responding to a question which simply asked: "Could you explain the black and blue dress illusion?”

In the caption, the user said: “Reminder this is an optical illusion and even if you don't see certain colours, that doesn't mean other people are wrong. However, the actual colours of the dress are black and blue.”

The video then states if you colour pick it, you get the "colours gold and a shade of desaturated blue”. The creator added: "It’s important to understand this dress is not in lighting where it can be darkened."

The dress in the original image is surrounded by “warm and bright colours” with “no sign of heavy lighting besides from the flare from the window behind it”. The video creator explains how the colours around the dress can affect how it’s perceived, with the photo being “overlayed in a warm bright light” responsible for the optical illusion.

They added: “Many people see gold and white because their mind filters out a darker blue shade rather than a warm light.”

The TikTokker advised viewers who still struggled to see the phenomenon: “If you still can't see it, I recommend you look up a video on how to/one that more thoroughly explains this illusion than I did.”

People shared their thoughts in the comments section. One person said: “I cannot physically see black and blue," while another asked: “How the hell do people see gold and white?”

What colour do you see? Let us know in the comments section.