Universal Standard Surprise Me Mystery Box Review Fall 2023

What’s Inside the Bag

I’ve written about my obsession with Universal Standard’s Mystery Box promotion before. If you aren’t familiar with this company, they offer size inclusive women’s clothing and a revolutionary Fit Liberty program that lets you exchange clothes for up to a year even if you change size. But the high price tags mean I can’t buy from this company very often, so when Mystery Box season rolls around, I can never resist the stellar deals.

This fall was no different except for one thing: the company made this Mystery Box event their last one ever. Because I can’t justify spending on their full price merchandise, I bit the bullet and ordered not one but two of their Surprise Me boxes.

Unlike some of their other curated boxes, which contains only denim, tops, or dresses, this box can come with anything. It works out well for the company to offload excess stock or offseason clothing, while consumers get a big break on price. This fall’s Surprise Me box retailed for $98 for three pieces of clothing. Since a basic t-shirt costs upwards of $50, that made these boxes almost irresistible from a price point per item basis.

Like all Mystery Box events, my packages took weeks to arrive. Since I’m used to the delay during this busy time, I knew I would have to wait. I ordered my first box on the first day of the eleven day event in late September, and the second shortly after. I got both boxes in my usual size for the brand, a 2XS, which equates to a size 6 to 8 for most other women’s clothing retailers.

My first box contained a pair of Casual Stretch Twill Pants in khaki, a Summer Cardi in navy, and a Coastal Linen Blazer in bleu scolaire. The website acknowledges that the twill pants run a size smaller, and advise buyers to order the next larger size for proper fit. My box included the 2XS size, and although I got them on, they did not zip. I was bummed, as I had really wanted to try these pants, and not getting them to zip didn’t help my confidence levels any. 

Luckily I had a lot more luck with the other two items. The Summer Cardi fit perfectly, with a casual loose vibe and lightweight fabric. I’ve actually wanted one of these for months (if not longer), so it was well worth the gamble for me. Like all items in mystery boxes, you don’t get to choose the pieces or the color, so I feel like I lucked out with this item in a color that works for me. It also has two front pockets, though I haven’t tried using them for a phone or keys, so I don’t know yet how practical they are.

The last item, the linen blazer, also fits perfectly. It comes with shoulder pads, which I haven’t seen since the 80’s, and a long length. On me, it hits at almost my hips, where it curves gracefully. The blue color is a dream, and the two buttons make it easy to wear open or closed. But the linen fabric is stiff, and I wouldn’t wear it without long sleeves underneath. I still haven’t decided if I will keep this item or try and sell it or trade for something I will use more often. But it comes well constructed and would easily dress up a pair of jeans or add a great layer on top of dresses and shirts.

My second box also contained three items. I received a pair of Stephanie Wide Leg pants in black with the blue and white stripe, the Amy Pullover Hoodie in black, and a Double V Tank in red ochre. This box was a complete hit.

I have wanted to try the Stephanie Pants for absolute ages, but the price tag deterred me, especially since you can’t try them on in person before committing. The fabric drapes nicely and has a heavy weight to it, so while I wouldn’t wear them in the summer, they work well for the other three seasons of the year here in the Pacific Northwest. I require pockets in my pants (another reason I hadn’t purchased a pair), but these have rear pockets which can handle my phone and anything else I need to keep handy. They have a sporty vibe but still look and feel much nicer than my average leggings or joggers, and could easily be dressed up. They pair wonderfully with a denim jacket.

The Amy Pullover is a basic hooded sweatshirt. I have plenty of sweatshirts, and black isn’t the best color on me. But the material feels so smooth and nice, I may have to add to my collection. This is not your standard sweatshirt. And I would never wear it if I planned to sweat. But it elevates a basic essential in my wardrobe, and I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it most places I go even with its causal vibe. I’d prefer a different color, especially one I don’t already have in my closet. But overall I’m super pleased with this item.

The final piece, the tank top, works fine. It will layer under other options no problem, and it fits. I like the bright color, even though I don’t own a lot of bright red. The style with the v in both the front and back works for me. Would I have bought this top without the huge discount during the sale? No way. Will I use it? Most definitely. Unlike some items in my previous mystery boxes, I won’t be buying more of this tank top. But it works well with my wardrobe and will get plenty of wear.

All in all, with an average cost of $33 per piece, I feel like I did very well this round. Even though I can’t use the pair of pants in the wrong size, I still paid under $40 for the remaining items. I can’t get prices like that from this brand even with massive discounts or coupon codes. Plus, I love the thrill of the hunt and know I can easily sell or trade anything I can’t use. I’m sad the company won’t have any more of these exciting events. But in the meantime, I will enjoy my refreshed wardrobe at a serious discount.