Is this some sort of social experiment?

The item behind the dress (to the viewers left) is black & white - looks like it's in a milk cow pattern.

The black in the item behind the dress gives you a black baseline as the light brown wood trim to the right gives you a reference.

It appears to me to be a white dress/jacket with gold trim.

It's lit from behind, putting the front of the dress in shadow making the white of the dress appear darker.