Kim Kardashian's Skims advent calendar draws mockery and refund offers

What buyers found

Buyers of Skims' advent calendar, sold for 148 US dollars (about 130 euros, according to El País and 7sur7), have shared unboxing videos that drew heavy criticism online. The calendar contains twelve small surprises. Creators filmed the boxes being opened one by one and showed hair ties, hair clips, hair pins, a keyring with a teddy bear, a small squishy toy and a headband made from bra straps. Spiegel Online reported that one creator estimated the contents at five dollars in total. In the Swiss online shop the same calendar costs 194 francs, and 20 Minuten reported that a waiting list now exists for it.

Online reaction

The criticism spread across TikTok, Instagram and X. El País reported that one creator's video had more than 18 million views, 7sur7 cited a clip with over 60 million views, and 20 Minuten pointed to an unboxing video with more than 63 million views. A photo on X showing hair ties and similar items found under a sofa cushion had been liked more than 140,000 times by Monday midday, 9 November. Commenters called the calendar a scam, compared its contents to Temu goods and questioned whether it was worth even 20 euros, according to 7sur7. Others compared it to the Fyre Festival and joked about the brand name, asking whether it stood for Skims or Scams. 20 Minuten noted that the anger was aimed less at individual items than at the gap between price and quality.

Skims responds

Skims told Page Six that it had personally contacted each customer who bought the calendar and offered a choice between a full refund and a Skims gift card for other products. The news.com.au outlet published a screenshot of an email sent to buyers in which the company acknowledged errors. Customers can send the calendar back for a refund, and Skims covers the return shipping. Alternatively, they can keep the products and receive a credit equal to the purchase price. Stern reported that Skims had advertised the calendar as including accessories such as hair accessories and keyrings, which buyers said did not match what arrived. None of the reports gave a figure for how many buyers have asked for a refund.

The brand behind the calendar

Kim Kardashian and Swedish entrepreneur Jens Grede founded Skims in 2019, according to Spiegel Online. The label began with shapewear and has since expanded into loungewear and swimwear. El País notes that the brand has worked with companies such as Nike on comfortable clothing. Spiegel Online describes Skims as a billion-dollar global fashion brand.