My Review of the Universal Standard Mystery Box
Universal Standard is a size-inclusive (00-40!) clothing brand that focuses on high-quality clothing in shapes and cuts that are engineered to feel good and flatter. They have an amazing range of clothing to choose from: everything from basics to dresses, jeans to outerwear! In February, Universal Standard announced that their annual mystery box sale had begun! Read on to see what I got in my mystery box.
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About the Universal Standard Mystery Box
The Box: Universal Standard Mystery Box
The Cost: From $50 to $175 depending on the ‘theme’ you choose!
The Products: 3 pieces of clothing from Universal Standard. Universal Standard offers sizes from 00-40. Available in the following categories: Tops, Bottoms, Dresses, Luxe, Petites, Athleisure, Classic Style, Bold Style, Premier, and Surprise Me.
Ships to: The US for free.
Good to Know: This is NOT a rental service, nor a subscription, but rather a one-time mystery box purchase.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
How does the Universal Standard Mystery Box work?
I have been so intrigued with this company and their mystery boxes, so I was excited to get the chance to try them out! They have a few different options available, and while Megan chose the elusive 'Surprise Me!' option (check out her thoughts here), I went with the classic outfitting option because it's always good to have some classic staples in your closet. After placing my order, I received an email asking me to answer a few survey questions to help them pick items to match my style.
I have never ordered from them before, and I actually didn't even think to make a wish list, so whatever they sent me was based on just a few questions about colors I like, colors I avoid and whether I have any fabric allergies.
Another item to note: this promo was SO successful that the team got a little behind on shipping dates. It took a few weeks for this box to arrive which, of course, was a bit nerve-wracking considering I have never ordered from them before. They communicated their progress frequently via email and even sent a $25 off coupon code in my email, in addition, to including an extra item in my box (more on that at the end)!
My Universal Standard ‘Classic Outfitting’ Mystery Box
Since that survey was not much to go on, I really had no idea what to expect from my order! Their sizing is so different and after consulting with their size charts, I selected size 12 for my bottoms (which is about right, I'm usually a 10-12), but for my top I chose XS, which is a size I have never ever been in my life, but for them equates a size 10-12. I love their ideas on Universal Sizing and how it represents real women and real sizes.
My box arrived with a notecard with the name of who my items were handpicked by.
There was also a little note about the 4th item I received. This was my first experience with this company and I have to say I was very impressed with their customer service and how they handled the influx of orders they received.
Geneva Dress in Forest Green, Size XS - Retail Value $120
This first piece is a dress that I had seen on their site and was definitely intrigued by! It was such an odd idea to me with the asymmetrical hemline and the fact that it seemed to fit every body type on their website. I thought that surely it wouldn't fit and be flattering on everyone, but after trying it on myself, I really think it is! This simple cotton (with 7% elastane) dress was sewn in just the right way to avoid clinging to any areas that would detract from its silhouette - and this is coming from someone with very wide hips. I still feel like the hem is a bit outside my comfort zone, but it is so comfortable and I can't wait to wear it this spring! This is a great classic, versatile piece that I can easily dress up with jewelry, but just as comfortably throw a jean jacket over for a more casual look. This dress was an easy winner for me!
Tee Rex in Olive, Size XS - Retail Value $50.00
The next item I received is another green piece, but this time in an olive shade. This classic tee - with a super fun name - is soft, comfortable and great quality. I like the length of the sleeves and of the rounded hemline. This is another classic staple and again, I found it to be flattering and not clingy at all. This is made from Peruvian cotton and they say it gets softer each time you wash it. I am sure mine will be incredibly soft in no time since I plan on wearing this one a lot! It looks great over leggings or jeans.
Seine High Rise Skinny Jeans 27 Inch in Dark Indigo, Size 10 - Retail Value $90.00
What could be more classic than a pair of denim jeans? These jeans are also pictured with the Tee Rex shirt above. I wasn't quite sure about the length of them at first, because the crop is so slight. These are super high-rise jeans and they have a lot of room in the hips but get smaller at the waist which is exactly the type of jeans I need. The dark wash is nice and there is some white threading throughout that gives them a bit of a shine which means these will be my fancy jeans. Haha. I think these will be great with a pair of sandals and a nice tank top during the warmer months! They have just the right amount of stretch to them and they are comfortable and feel flattering by creating a seamless look under my tops.
Sophia Puffer Bomber in Black, Size XS - Retail Value $208
I was pretty excited to see a substantial puffer coat in my box. This puffer coat is actually a bomber style, which is totally different for me, and something I am not 100% sure I can pull off, but I like it! The classic black color is great and it is very warm without feeling bulky. The pockets are fleece-lined and the collar and sleeves have warm, knit trim. The quilted style of the jacket is nice looking and I like the fit of this one. Although, if I do move certain ways, the sleeves ride up, so if you have longer arms, this one might be a tough fit.
Was My Universal Standard Mystery Box Worth It?
Yes! The items that I received did not disappoint. It is always a gamble anytime the word "mystery" is involved, and the fact that I was ordering clothes from a new company was a little worrisome, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well their clothing fit me and how they actually seemed to flatter my figure. The pieces I received were certainly within the classic category while still being somewhat unique in style and I am sure I will be wearing these pieces for a while thanks to the great quality!
Alright, so let's talk about the value. This box was supposed to have three pieces in it with a value of $475. After totaling up the four pieces I received, my total came to $468, which is just shy of the total value and not a huge deal to me. I do feel that it's important to point out that I had only received 3 items, my value would have been well under the $475 total. This makes their "extra item" offer feel rather gimmicky since the three items I received should have had a higher value individually in order to align with their promised value of 3 pieces for $475. I did reach out to customer service and got a pretty generic response with another $25 off coupon (which cannot be combined with the first I received for the box being late), but I'm glad they addressed my concerns quickly and with an immediate offer to try and make it right!
While I felt it important to mention, this value issue did not negatively impact my experience, and overall, I was happy with how their customer service team handled the initial lateness of the box and even how they responded to my concerns over the value of the box. I loved my items and I'd definitely try another mystery box in the future!
Value Breakdown
My Universal Standard Mystery Box cost $95. Here is what I paid approximately per item:
- Geneva Dress: $24.36
- Tee Rex: $10.15
- Jeans: $18.27
- Bomber Jacket: $42.22
Alternatively, each item had an average cost of $23.75 per item.
Would you like to see more Universal Standard content? Have you ever tried their 1:1 styling service?
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