Papier’s beautiful advent calendar – which sells out every year – is back for 2025, and it’s an absolute delight, says Mirror beauty editor (and stationery lover) Laura Mulley
I’m a huge fan of stylish and customisable stationery brand Papier – I ask for a new set of its headed notecards every year for Christmas – and so, as a huge stationery fan, last year I was thrilled to discover that the brand had a released an advent calendar, giving shoppers 24 days of desk treats.
It proved popular both with our readers and with Papier shoppers in general, quickly selling out, but it’s back for 2025 – and, after having had a peek inside it myself, I think better than ever.
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The 24 Days of Desk Delights is available to buy now from the Papier website, priced at £140, and contains a variety of chic stationery items, from pens and paper clips to to do lists and daily planners.
It’s an absolute joy before it has even been opened – even better than last year’s. Beautifully packaged and designed to look a bit like a vintage writing desk, its ribbons open to reveal the 24 boxes in the top compartment, two side drawers that swing out and a bottom drawer. Helpfully, they’re arranged numerically from top to bottom, so no opening and shutting doors trying to find the right parcel.
From then on, every day is a delight to open. As well as looking incredibly stylish, each box is designed to open slightly differently, and despite being made of cardboard, it really does feel like you’re unwrapping a special gift every day. While the boxes are unlikely to last past Christmas as they are quite flimsy, it’s a shame to throw them in the bin after opening.
And in general, the gifts inside are just as delightful too. It depends what kinds of stationery items you use the most – some might find five different types of pen boring, whereas others might not have use of the stickers, for example. My personal highlights are the lobster bookmark and the various different notecards and to do lists, whereas I probably won’t use the paper clips or washi tape.
All in all, though this is such a lovely alternative advent calendar for anyone who loves writing, staying organised at work or shopping for cute stationery items, and I can see why it sells out every year.
Another of our favourite advent calendars this year is a chocolate one, but probably not what you think. We’ve been wowed by the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Drinking Chocolate Advent Calendar, which costs £50, has 24 doors, and behind each there’s a sachet of Hotel Chocolat drinking chocolate to use with your Velvetiser, in various flavours (far better than just your average cocoa, this is finely grated real chocolate, making a luxurious drink).
And of course, beauty advent calendars continue to be big business. Our top picks this year include the classic Liberty one (£275), OK! Beauty Box’s at £99, and Sephora’s epic Favourites Advent Calendar, priced at £225.