The infamous optical illusion dress that captivated the internet in 2015 has once again taken social media by storm. Discovered at a yard sale in Burlington, Vermont, the blue-and-black dress—famously debated as either blue and black or white and gold—has become an online sensation for a new generation. This time, TikTok user Amanda Rubinstein was the one to stumble upon the now-iconic garment and share it with the world.
A costume that divided the internet
In 2015, a simple photo of the dress launched heated debates across the globe. Originally posted by a mother just before her daughter’s wedding, the image went viral as viewers argued over its colors. Was it black and blue, or white and gold? The British brand Roman Originals, which manufactured the dress, later confirmed it as blue and black, but the illusion continued to spark conversation for months.
“Oh my goodness, You have the dress!”: Rubinstein’s viral moment
Rubinstein’s TikTok video, captioned, “I’m at a yard sale and they have a lot of great stuff, including the dress,” has drawn over 3.8 million views. In her video, she exclaims, “I knew it was blue,” while panning over the iconic dress. Speaking to Newsweek, Rubinstein shared her excitement, saying, “The costume was one of the first items I saw when I walked up to the yard sale. I immediately screamed, ‘Oh my goodness, you have THE DRESS!’” She added, “I was in utter shock. The owners and other neighbors had a nice laugh at my expressive reaction upon seeing it.” Though uncertain if the dress would fit, Rubinstein decided it was an unmissable chance to own “one of the most iconic dresses of the internet age.”
Social media reactions: The illusion lives on
The video has attracted thousands of comments, with netizens still divided over the dress’s colors. “What a beautiful white and gold dress!” commented one user, while another added, “This is the first time I’ve not seen it as white and gold.”
Some TikTok users suggested she alter the video’s hue to make it appear white and gold, with one viewer calling it “the absolute most legendary yard sale find ever.”
As “The Dress” makes its unexpected comeback, it appears this internet relic will continue to blur the lines between black and blue, white and gold, and reality and illusion.