Ten years after a striped dress image sparked a viral debate on Tumblr, the question of its color continues to intrigue. Originally posted in February 2015, the dress, which some see as blue and black and others as white and gold, was recently revisited by Historic Vids on X with a post on June 30 at 14:10 UTC: “10 years ago, this dress was posted on tumblr causing a viral debate on whether it was blue and black or white and gold. The phenomenon revealed differences in human color perception and became the subject of scientific investigations into neuroscience and vision science.” The accompanying image shows the dress under different lighting conditions, reigniting the controversy.
The phenomenon began when Scottish singer Caitlin McNeill shared the photo on Tumblr seeking opinions on its colors, triggering a global discussion that dominated social media. Historic Vids’ account included several images: one of the dress in a store with bluish and brown tones, another with a black and blue background more defined, and a third showing digital manipulations highlighting both interpretations. This visual exercise has demonstrated that perception depends on factors like lighting and brain adaptation, a finding scientists have explored ever since.
Reactions on X reflect the ongoing divide. One user, NO CONTEXT VIDEOS, commented: “That’s how colour theory works,” accompanying the message with an illustration splitting the dress into bluish and golden tones, suggesting an explanation rooted in color theory. Another, CONTEXT VIDEOS, expressed disbelief: “It’s blue and black.. I get why people see gold though because of the saturation. But white? Where the hell is white in this picture?” This interaction shows how the debate remains alive, even a decade later.
Science has made strides in understanding this mystery. Research, such as that published in the journal Current Biology in 2015, indicates that the discrepancy stems from how the brain adjusts colors under different lighting conditions. Those who see white and gold tend to assume daylight filtering out shorter blue wavelengths, while those perceiving blue and black adjust for warmer light. The images from Historic Vids’ post, including one with color swatches, reinforce this theory by showing how digital manipulation can alter perception.
The dress has also left a cultural legacy. Its virality led to appearances on shows like Ellen DeGeneres, where the original owner confirmed it was blue and black, though this did not resolve perceptual differences. On X, users like photricity have shared their own interpretations: “I means the first is white and gold, the second one by the upper right is blue and black and the others are pretty much white and gold.” This variety of opinions underscores that visual experience is deeply subjective.
As of 05:53 AM AST on July 1, 2025, the debate remains a captivating topic. The dress’s rippled stripes and blue jacket continue to circulate, challenging each new viewer to pick a side. As neuroscience advances in unraveling the complexities of human vision, this simple dress endures as a reminder of how perception can both unite and divide people, leaving a lasting echo in the digital culture.
Source:
- https://x.com/historyinmemes/status/1939687869221933566