The actual dress was black and blue. The confusion came from how lighting and color perception tricked people's brains, making some see it as white and gold. It became a viral example The White and Gold (No, Blue and Black!) Dress That Melted the Internet The New York Times CATHERINE OF ARAGON SB0004801230010 SAGA Bridal Mystery Color Solved For Viral Optical Illusion Dress YouTube Proof that THE DRESS is Black and Blue NOT White and Gold YouTube Catherine the Great, empress of Russia, was born #OnThisDay in 1729. Elle Fanning wore this Sharon Long designed gold coronation gown, based on a traditional Russian sarafan with an embellished apron of