What's Inside the $148 Advent Calendar? SKIMS' Holiday Advent Calendar Leaves Netizens Unamused, Followed by a Swift Refund Saga
Opening Day 12 really leaves you stunned~
Summary
- Priced at US$ 148, the 12-day advent calendar leaves out SKIMS' signature shapewear, offering only cheap items like hair accessories and keychains.
- Unboxing videos from TikTok creators gathered tens of millions of views, with commenters teasing that the contents look like "glovebox trash found under a car seat."
- The brand issued an email acknowledging the product fell short of expectations, proactively offering buyers the option to keep the items and receive a US$ 150 store credit or a full refund.
- The swift crisis response sparked mixed reactions, with some commentators viewing it as classic Kardashian PR to turn controversy into brand exposure.
The magic of an advent calendar usually lies in trying out a brand’s hero products in a fun set, but what SKIMS delivered this year took things to a startling extreme. Founded by Kim Kardashian, the brand recently launched a 12-day “Accessories Advent Calendar” priced at $148. Yet when the first wave of buyers excitedly opened their packages, they weren’t greeted by signature plush fabrics or popular shapewear, but a string of cheap, baffling trinkets.
What started as an eager 12-day unboxing quickly turned into an internet-wide viral disaster.
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The backlash began with an unboxing video from content creator @wetsloppyswollen. Day by day, as she opened each slot, her expression shifted from excitement to utter disbelief. Eventually, she called out Kim Kardashian directly: “Kimberly, you’re really pissing me off! How is this so expensive?” Her raw, frustrated reaction garnered tens of millions of views, igniting anger across the internet.
A close look at the 12-day lineup reveals none of the lounge or base layers that made SKIMS famous. Instead, buyers found branded bobby pins, plastic claw clips, hair ties made from modified bra straps, a plastic keychain, a stress toy, and an ornament.
Mocked as “car seat crack debris,” why did these items cross the line for consumers?
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After seeing the reveal, critics joked that the box looked like clutter swept out of a car seat or leftover inventory from Kim’s nightstand. Some even dubbed it the Fyre Festival of advent calendars. Industry onlookers estimated the total manufacturing cost of the accessories at under $20, despite carrying a $148 price tag under the SKIMS name.
The appeal of an advent calendar rests on the feeling of value, discovery, and ritual. When consumers spend nearly $150, they are paying for trust in SKIMS’ signature aesthetic and quality, not generic plastic knickknacks slapped with a logo. With such a massive gap between price and product quality, backlash was inevitable.
Admitting defeat with lightning-fast refunds: sincere damage control, or a calculated clout strategy?
As negative reviews poured in, the SKIMS PR team moved remarkably fast. The brand emailed everyone who purchased the calendar, acknowledging that the product fell short of expectations. They offered a generous resolution: customers could receive a full refund or opt for $150 in site credit without having to return the item.
This textbook turn of swift refunds curbed legal risks and further consumer backlash, but it also raised questions among fashion and marketing insiders. Known for steering public narrative and social chatter, could the Kardashian team have anticipated the controversy to farm massive organic noise, only to win back favor with a generous payout? Whatever the truth, the incident serves as a clear warning: no matter how much social influence a brand holds, burning customer trust is always a dangerous gamble.
Join POPBEE Circle and subscribe to the POPBEE Newsletter to get instant updates on the latest trends, plus early access to exclusive rewards and discounts! Aside from this article, here are a few recent stories worth checking out:
- SKIMS Even Releases Skincare Tools: Kim Kardashian's Latest Collaboration Features Dreamy Ice Globes Too Pretty to Use!
- Refusing Ugly Christmas Sweaters: The Kardashian Sisters Reunite in SKIMS Holiday Lingerie for a Vintage Campaign
- The perfect pair of leggings in your closet is here: Nike x SKIMS’ first collaboration lands in Hong Kong, with Stephanie Au showing off the god-tier cut
