Behind every door of the SKIMS advent calendar was something small enough to get lost in the back of a sofa. Now the brand is offering buyers a full refund, or the chance to keep the box and take the money as store credit.
The calendar went on sale on 29 October as part of Kim Kardashian's 2026 holiday range, priced at $148 in the US and £158 in the UK. SKIMS has since apologised by email, but shoppers still argue over whether the product or the price let them down.
Inside the SKIMS 2026 Advent Calendar
An advent calendar is supposed to build a daily countdown to Christmas, with the small thrill of a new door each morning, which is why these unboxings stung. Reports describe 12 days of satin scrunchies, hair ties, bobby pins, a squishy and a faux-fur compact mirror keychain, with no clothing in sight.
Online, the mood turned quickly. One Threads user joked that they had been carrying theirs at the bottom of a handbag for months without noticing, while another likened the contents to something found behind a headboard. Some shoppers called the box a scam, while others said they couldn't believe it was real.
Is It Fair To Blame SKIMS?
Not everyone piled on. Defenders pointed out that the product page called it an accessories advent calendar, so the contents matched the label. Critics argued that $148 sets a different expectation, especially from a brand best known for shapewear and loungewear.
This is the logic of Kim Kardashian’s haters/ Social media engagement farmers
— lala | Kimkonic (@laahlaah2023) November 7, 2026
Visit the Skims website, check then buy the ACCESSORIES Advent Calendar, make TikTok videos acting surprised that an ACCESSORIES Advent Calendar contains ACCESSORIES 🤦🏽♀️
Well….its sold out…😂😂 pic.twitter.com/k8aQcbvS0A
SKIMS has not argued back. Its customer email says the product did not meet expectations and admits the brand 'fell short this time'. The calendar has also reportedly sold out online, leaving the original disagreement hanging over many unopened and opened boxes.
How Do Buyers Get Their Money Back?
The email sets out two distinct paths for affected customers. Those who want their money back are directed to a dedicated returns link on the SKIMS website to initiate a standard return, with the usual return shipping fee waived entirely. Alternatively, customers who prefer to keep the calendar can opt for store credit equal to the full purchase price, which they can apply to any future order.
The store credit option effectively trades an unwanted item for future SKIMS products, keeping customer dollars firmly within the brand's ecosystem. Meanwhile, direct links in the email streamline the process into a self-service resolution, avoiding the friction of back-and-forth customer support correspondence and putting control back in the buyer's hands.
What Else Is in the SKIMS Holiday Shop?
The calendar is part of a wider festive push. The SKIMS Holiday Shop is back with more festive prints, seasonal shades, and new limited-edition styles, plus gifts for her, him, and kids, matching family pyjamas, and a stocking-stuffers section.
Gift packaging comes in three sizes, and US and UK storefront listings feature a wide array of clothing, sleepwear, and loungewear. Prices run from around $14 (£12) for a lightweight cotton pointelle lace thong up to $128 (£118) for a sweater knit cable zip-up hoodie.
The Holiday Shop remains open for browsing, leaving customers to decide whether a full refund or store credit is enough to make up for twelve days of hair ties and keychains.
