A £50 (Dh283) dress sold by British clothing retailer Roman Originals Ltd has divided the internet and caused an unlikely online philosophical debate that's drawn in the likes of reality TV star Kim Kardashian and singer Taylor Swift.
The colours of the Birmingham, England-based company's Lace Detail Bodycon Dress have taken over social media feeds in recent days, with #TheDress becoming a No 1 trending topic on Twitter. At the centre of the debate: is it black and blue, or white and gold?
“From this day on, the world will be divided into two people. Blue & black, or white & gold,” US comedian Ellen DeGeneres tweeted.
The picture of the dress was uploaded on image-sharing website Tumblr by a user named “swiked” on Wednesday. But it wasn’t until internet news company Buzzfeed asked for reader opinions on Thursday that the dialectic got going.
Musician Taylor Swift was gripped by ontological uncertainty.
“I don’t understand this odd dress debate and I feel like it’s a trick somehow. I’m confused and scared. PS it’s OBVIOUSLY BLUE AND BLACK,” she tweeted.
Ms Swift was supported by others, including Justin Bieber.
Comedian Mindy Kaling found it an affront to rationalism. She tweeted, “I think I’m getting so mad about the dress because it’s an assault on what I believe is objective truth.”
The white and gold camp was supported by the likes of actress Kat Dennings, New York Yankees centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, and reality TV star Kim Kardashian West.
“What colour is that dress? I see white & gold,” Kim K tweeted, adding that her husband, rapper Kanye West, saw black and blue.
Buzzfeed’s post had been viewed nearly 22 million times on the website as of early Friday. A poll alongside found 72 per cent of respondents believed the dress to be white and gold.
* Reuters and Bloomberg News
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This editor clearly sees a blue and black dress. And this Vine explains why the dress can look white/gold. It is overexposed:
