Saw It On Social: A Mystery Box Roundup

Mystery Boxes are a hot item for many retailers. You purchase multiple pieces at a discount, without knowing exactly what you’ll receive, and you roll the dice on how much or how little you will like what you get. If you love the pieces, you win big. If you don’t, maybe you have regrets.

Recently, I’ve purchased Mystery Boxes from three different retailers. Let’s review each.

For $98, I received four pieces from Melinda Maria’s fashion jewelry line. I was very happy with the quality of the pieces, but not all of them were my style.

In the box, I received these adorable, dainty huggie hoops that run $48. I have worn them several times since. I wouldn’t have chosen them myself, but I love them.

I also received this pave heart pendant and this gold heart pendant, which were meant to be worn together. Hearts are not my thing. So I gave them to a friend’s daughter as a birthday gift and she loved them.

Finally, I received these large, stylish hoops. Again, not my taste, but a friend was the perfect recipient for these. I gifted them to her as a congratulations gift for a recent promotion.

Over all, I was very happy with the box, even though most of the pieces were not my taste. This would make a really fun gift for a niece or friend. And I was happy to get a few pieces that made great gifts. So I found the $98 price to be a good one, and I used all of the pieces, even if I’m not wearing them myself and was pleased with what I received for the price.

Let me first say, that I really like Universal Standard. The inclusively sized line makes great basics and pieces that fit into any wardrobe. So when I saw they had a Mystery Box of four pieces for $179, I gave it a try hoping for a few great basics. Sadly, that is not what I received and there are no returns.

In the box there was a cobalt ponte blazer, a teal t-shirt, a burgundy blouse, and a mint sweater. None of the colors went together. So right off the bat, I have pieces but no looks.

The teal t-shirt was a nice piece, but it’s basically a workout top for me. Deep sea is a fantastic color though. I also received a v-neck, short sleeve burgundy blouse that is no longer available for sale. The color was nice, but the quality was horrible. It was Forever21-esque, and very sheer. Not ideal.

I also received a cobalt double-breasted blazer that runs $198 retail. I’m not sure what to do with this piece. It’s a great color, and the fit is good. However, while the material feels nice, the edges have some fading where sewn, likely from how it was stored. I may buy the coordinating pants and see if I can make a backup suit with it. But it feels a little strange to spend $98 to be able to make a piece wearable.

Lastly, I received a green Dolman sweater in the Better-Than-Cashmere fabric. I would never wear this color. It screams Easter Egg to me. But the material feels very nice. On the thinner side, but very soft and wearable. I am considering buying this Better-Than-Cashmere Ribbed Cardigan.

On the whole, I was disappointed in this box from the moment I opened it. I knew seeing the colors that it wouldn’t solve any issues in my wardrobe or give me something great to wear. The promised value of the box was over $300, and that was accurate, but only because of the $198 blazer. A Reddit thread suggests that the Mystery Boxes may have declined in quality in recent years.

Bottom line, I will continue to shop Universal Standard; their fine knit cardigan is one of my favorite pieces. I think it’s a great brand. But I could have picked $179 worth of items and gotten pieces I would love and use. The Mystery Box just wasn’t worth it.

After two years of sitting on my tush and not working out, I want to get back to the gym. As I’ve gained weight during that time, my workout clothes from 2022 no longer fit. So I needed some new things. A friend recommended the Set Surprise box from Set Active. The boxes sell out very quickly when they come available, and it was difficult snagging one.

Set was transparent enough to inform me that the pieces might not match, might include overstock or discontinued colors, and that there might be small imperfections. But for the price, I was willing to take a shot. Five pieces of trendy workout wear for just $75 seemed like a steal.

I received an Elevate Tank, which I love. I wear it so often, I’m washing it every four days minimum. There was also a sports bra that I like, but I’m not crazy about the fact that it says Set in white letters on the front. I also received a pair of wide leg lounge pants that I wear sometimes, but do not wear out of the house. I know the stylish Gen Z girlies love an oversized pant, but I can’t make it work out in the wild without looking schlubby.

For the pieces I don’t wear, I received two bottoms that just didn’t fit. You only get to select one size for your box, and I chose M. I needed an L for most bottoms. So they didn’t work. This was unfortunate, but I was able to gift them to a friend who loves the Power Shorts.

I felt like this box was the biggest gamble, since it was the only one from a brand that I wasn’t familiar with. However, since I received two tops that Iike and wear that exceeded the cost of the box, I consider it a win. If this is a brand you like, I would sign up to be notified the next time the sets become available.

In summary, the Mystery Box were a mixed bag. I received some things I liked, and some things I would never wear. With two of the boxes, I could gift the unworn items, while still getting value out of the box. In the Universal Standard box, that wasn’t the case.

Have you ever tried a mystery box? How was your experience?

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