Imagine spending almost $150 on an advent calendar from Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS, expecting twelve days of exciting surprises.
Now imagine opening it and finding hair ties.
And then some bobby pins. And then more tiny accessories.
That’s basically how one of the internet’s latest fashion controversies started.
SKIMS released a holiday advent calendar priced at $148 around 1,370 DH, promising customers twelve days of gifts from the brand.
But when TikTok creator Kayla Ryan started opening the compartments on camera, things didn’t exactly go as expected.
Instead of the kind of products many shoppers imagined, the calendar contained small accessories including hair ties, bra straps, clips, a keychain and a pocket mirror.
Her reaction quickly went viral.
The unboxing attracted millions of views, with viewers questioning whether the products were worth the price.
Other creators began posting their own reactions, turning what should have been a festive product launch into a much bigger conversation about luxury pricing.
And SKIMS eventually responded.
The company acknowledged that the calendar hadn’t met customer expectations and offered purchasers a full refund or store credit.
According to a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly, customers were contacted directly about the offer.
But the controversy isn’t only about one advent calendar.
It’s about how much people are willing to pay for a brand name.
Luxury and celebrity-backed products often come with higher prices, even when the individual items appear relatively ordinary.
And social media has made it easier than ever for customers to compare what they expected with what they actually received.
For Gen Z, the debate is pretty straightforward.
Was the calendar worth $148?
Or were customers mostly paying for the SKIMS logo on the box?
