This is so much grander than I expected. Many thanks to those who also wrote reviews and prompted me to buy it. Here is my experience: Pros: Works for males or females. I purchased for an adult male, who likes it and is impressed The long zipper makes it very easy to get a comforter inside and to tie it properly. We were able to turn this inside out, do the tying, and then flip it all back, with no issues. You can also tie without turning it all out. Zipper does not show once this is on the bed. The ties are sewn in securely. No worries! (the photo shows this tied with a bow to the duvet insert, inside-out view), The fabric has a nice heavy weight. There is a high-end sheen that almost looks like a touch of gold tone is mixed with the silver. This makes the grey warmer looking. This adds warmth to the inserted comforter, so it saves on price as a lighter insert can be used. Matching linens are available. The fabric is holding up to washing, beautifully! Washing just this cover-set saves money on laundry and adds longer life to the comforter insert. No need to pay for an insert if you don't need it, as this cover is available by itself (like other duvet covers). Buying a cover separate like this allows you to use whatever insert works for you- feathers, synthetic, wool, heavy, light, please yourself! It looks great with the thin insert that we are using. It will also accommodate a thick one and still look right. Roomy! No buttons! The zipper is far better. The fabric doesn't attract dust & lint like my old duvet cover did. Cons: NONE! (Maybe not finding this years ago, or that future gifts may not measure up as well, heh)! Neutral: Queen shams run slightly small- just compare measurements before buying pillows. I found I saved money with smaller pillows. :-D The queen size was purchased for a full-sized bed. Works great, we like some extra drape and the coverage while using it. I am absolutely delighted, and so is my son, who allowed me to "crash" at his place during a visit to him at the university. I was able to buy all new bedding and pillows for him, and still saved half off what a hotel would have cost, while he gets to enjoy his new stuff and have a nice remembrance of our fun times every time he returns to his room. He also mentioned how nice it is going to bed, and that sure is nice with him so far away. Win-win! Some of the other reviewers are evidently unfamiliar with duvet covers, and expect a comforter insert to be included. That's not how these work, and collectively, we would not it any other way! These help comforters to last, and it is fine to be able to update or change a look by just getting a cover set, without having to pay for another comforter that is likely not needed. I was worried that this might be too busy, and yet it isn't. It blends just fine with another, older comforter that we are folding at the foot of the bed to be handy, just for wickedly cold January nights- that one is more tropical in look, yet it has some gray, and I am surprised that it works with this pattern. Sweet! I kind of wish it was mine! Pairings that worked well for us with this product: 1) Grey blanket, also purchased here and worthy of it's own 5-star review: Shilucheng Fleece Soft Warm Fuzzy Plush Lightweight Queen(90-Inch-by-90-Inch) Couch Bed Blanket, Grey 2) Pillows: I used two different pillows for the shams. I wasn't sure which ones my son would prefer, and I took time to compare dimensions for each one to the measurements provided for these shams. These links may save you some time in hunting down pillows, as both worked out great. So far they are 4 & 5 star pillows (they did not need washing, yet): Pillow 1 left just a bit of extra room in the sides of the sham; OK by me, not if you want a perfect fit, though (IMO: 4 star): Weekender Down Alternative Pillow with 100% Cotton Cover - Standard Pillow 2 fit the best, it is perfect (IMO: 5 star): Flannel Fleece Premium Pillow (Single Pack, Queen) Ultra-Soft Sleeping Pillow - by Utopia Bedding 3) Comforter insert: this has the nice loops on the corners that are needed to tie it into the duvet cover so that it does not slip. If you want to use one without that then you must add those loops yourself or duvet covers do not work- trust me on that, the comforter would do it's own thing inside the cover rather than staying nice and flat. This particular insert is not too hot, not too cool: Queen Comforter Duvet Insert, Quilted White Comforter Set with Corner Tabs, Hypoallergenic & Reversible, Box Stitched Plush Goose Down Alternative Fill, Brushed Microfiber by Sable