Kim Kardashian’s lingerie brand forced to offer refunds for ‘absolute joke’ $376 Advent calendar

The £158 ($376) UK calendar promised 12 days of surprises but included no Skims underwear. Photo / Getty Images

Kim Kardashian’s lingerie brand Skims has been forced to offer refunds on a £158 ($376) Advent calendar following a backlash from disappointed customers.

The brand, co-founded by the reality TV star and entrepreneur, has seemingly pulled the product from sale on its website after coming under fire from shoppers.

Its product listing had promised “12 days of fun surprises” for a cost of £158 in the UK and US$148 ($266) in the United States.

It said it included items such as “hair accessories to keychains and more” on a now-archived webpage.

But consumers were unimpressed when they discovered that the products in the calendar were relatively inexpensive and that none of the brand’s trademark underwear was included.

In unboxing videos posted on social media, fans complained about branded hairpins and headbands that look like bra straps.

They have since gained millions of views online, with one user describing the pricing as “straight up disrespectful”.

Another commenter wrote on the company’s Instagram page: “US$140 for some bits and bobs is crazy.”

“Never bought from them and never will,” another said.

“I can find the same things in your calendar under my couch for US$0,” one wrote.

Another shopper suggested this did not make for a merry “SKIMPmas”.

Some social media users even said they felt the offer was less generous than that of discount retailers.

“Absolute joke. Temu sells better stuff for less,” one wrote, referring to the Chinese retail giant.

The Advent calendar also featured a furry compact mirror, a “squishy” toy and a tartan teddy bear keychain.

Valued at US$5 billion ($8 billion) in 2025 when it raised millions of dollars in new funding, Skims specialises in shapewear and has collaborated with sportswear giants such as Nike.

It isn’t the first time the brand has courted controversy, with some shoppers left unconvinced by the launch of its bra with built-in faux nipples in 2023.

Christian leaders have also questioned the rise of luxury Advent calendars in recent years.

Dr Gavin Ashenden, the former chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II, previously said the growing indulgence, which can now include jewellery, alcohol and even sex toys, was a sign of society’s “spiritual illiteracy”.

A Skims spokesman told several media outlets that its calendar “didn’t meet expectations” and the company had “personally contacted every customer” to offer either a full refund or credit to put towards other purchases if they wanted to keep the calendar.

In an email sent to shoppers, the firm said it was “truly sorry”.

It comes as the company is looking to expand into areas such as beauty, which Kardashian has suggested could come next year.

The Telegraph has approached Skims for comment.

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