At the start of a week in mid-December, an intriguing email landed in my inbox from Universal Standard:
“We’re bringing back in-person shopping (with a twist) so you can see, touch, fit, and feel just-launched and best-selling pieces with the help of our styling team. We’ll be coming with a brand new collection of styles, including sleek suiting, coveted outwear, and fall essentials your closet is craving right now.”
And, with that, the email announced that (US) on Tour was coming to Charlotte in just a few days.
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The (US) on Tour events weren’t a surprise to me – I’d seen the series mentioned in the brand’s popular (unofficial) Facebook group. But I never imagined they’d make it all the way to Charlotte.
(Well, I’d hoped, but we often get passed over for these kinds of things in favor of Atlanta and D.C., so I tempered my expectations).
I quickly clicked through to sign up for a time slot, answered a few quick questions, and eagerly counted down the few days until my appointment. With only a little information available online about the experience, I thought it would be fun to recap my styling appointment in case they make their way to your city:
ATTENDING A UNIVERSAL STANDARD POP-UP STYLING APPOINTMENT
After scheduling my appointment, I received a confirmation email along with location information. Interestingly, this series tends not to pop up in traditional retail spaces, but in residential neighborhoods (as such, the appointment form provided space to request mobility or accessibility accommodations). The Charlotte pop-up was held in a charming Plaza Midwood home and was easy to find (and even better – parking was easy to find, too!).
Other than a small sign on the mailbox, there was no signage or display out front; I knocked as instructed, and was soon let into the home’s living room where I found two other locals and fans of the brand. We each had a chance to chat through our sizing, wardrobe gaps, and style preferences with one of the stylists, and shortly after, we were whisked away to the dressing area.
What I presume was the home’s dining room was set up with three fitting rooms, each outfitted with a rack of clothes in the size(s) selected. I was a little surprised that the stylists pulled singular pieces, not full outfits, but it allowed me to play a little as I worked my way down the rack. With such a full, full rack of pieces, I didn’t have a ton of time to linger over each look – and only managed to snap a few photos:
While there were a few things my stylist placed me in that I didn’t love (a ballgown without a defined waist, a batwing sweater), he otherwise hit the nail on the head (a few things on my rack were already in my closet if that tells you anything!). By the time I made it down the row of hangers, my hour was nearly up. Although none of the pieces at these pop-ups are available to purchase and bring home on the same day, one of the stylists was set up to place orders at the end of the appointment to ship to home.
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This, of course, has the potential to be an awkward encounter if you’re not planning to purchase anything at the appointment, but the stylists are super understanding, and much more focused on getting you in the right pieces and sizes rather than making the sale.
I myself didn’t place an order during my visit, but headed home with a list of favorites for my next orders (and I’ve since placed one for that travel-ready skirt + top duo!) and a better understanding of the brand’s sizing.
HOW TO FIND OUT IF UNIVERSAL STANDARD IS COMING TO YOUR CITY + TIPS FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
Find all the upcoming (US) on Tour dates on the Universal Standard website, along with the link to book your appointment. Don’t see your city? No need to fret! New dates and cities are yet to be announced (and rumor has it, they’ll return to some destinations a second time, so if you missed it the first time, you might still be in luck!). Each appointment lasts approximately one hour, and the address will be provided after you sign up.
An hour is barely enough time for the session, though – but I have a few helpful tips to share from my experience so you can make the most of yours:
- Wear easy on-and-off shoes. As you can see in the photos above, I did not, and I just wound up scooting around in my socks. A pair of slip-on shoes or sandals would have made things much easier.
- Bring a pen and paper, or have your phone handy. I think it would be so helpful if the stylists provided you with some sort of inventory or checklist of all the garments on your rack (perhaps with a spot to indicate your preferred size in that piece and whether you liked the item or not). Barring that, I recommend either bringing a notebook to jot down your favorites or keeping your phone out to snap a photo of the tag.
- Wear the right undergarments. I’m a big fan of wearing contrasting undergarments when trying things on. Why? It’s the best way to tell if a garment is sheer.
- Be super specific about your style preferences from the start. Although I arrived at my appointment right on the dot, I was the last one in and only had a moment to collect myself and spout off from memory what I was looking for during my session. Had I written things down beforehand, I would have remembered to request more structured garments and fewer synthetic fibers.
- Ask for more. Don’t be afraid to ask to try something that’s not on your rack. The team of stylists doesn’t have every Universal Standard garment on hand, but they have more than I imagined they might. On a whim, my neighbor asked to try on a houndstooth blazer and ended up ordering it.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON ATTENDING A UNIVERSAL STANDARD STYLING SESSION
So – is this experience worth it?
In my eyes, it’s a wholehearted yes. Rather than ordering and returning a bunch of things, I had the chance to try on a range of garments all at once and in a comfortable setting – including a few things I might not have pulled for myself but ended up liking. My only gripe is that I wish my stylist spent more time styling the garments into outfits rather than just pulling pieces for fit.
Still, I’m so grateful this experience was offered for free – and if they return to Charlotte down the line, I’d definitely sign up again. Maybe I’ll see you there!
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Questions for you
Is your city on the list?
What pieces are you most looking forward to trying in person?
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