It's alot darker than the picture (deep, shiny torquoise) but it's thick like I wanted. I washed it and it's hard to tell because it's so dark but looks like it's not the "minky" on both sides. It appears the opposite side is like my Clara Clark  Mink Raschel light blue blanket with only one side that's "minky"-the other side being  scuffy looking. Because I like a lighter blue, I won't use it for myself as intended but use in spare bedroom. At least it's not the thin, slinky soft style that doesn't keep you warm. I prefer the shorter, thicker pile that makes a really warm blanket. Four stars because it's hard to find a thick blanket at this price.