The year 2019 has blessed us with an abundance of memes, sensational scammers, and viral celeb moments—all ripe for the picking this #SpookySzn. ELLE.com is here to help you win Hallowmeme with our complete guide to costumes for people who love the Internet.
Who is Elizabeth Holmes?
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Elizabeth Holmes is a Silicon Valley startup darling turned notorious scammer. Once described as the “next Steve Jobs” by Inc. magazine, Holmes founded a health-tech company called Theranos in 2003. She claimed to have invented a machine capable of running blood tests based on a single finger prick—a technology that would have revolutionized the medical world—only, it didn’t work. The company was shut down last year after an FBI investigation and Holmes will go to trial in August 2020. Her wealth, once estimated by Forbes to be $4.5 billion, dropped to zero. The Theranos scandal has been turned into a book, hit podcast, and HBO documentary.
You should wear this costume if…
You got Elizabeth Holmes on our quiz, “Which Scammer Are You According To Your Sign?”
How to get it:
Recreating the beleaguered entrepreneur’s look is a relatively low lift, especially for any black turtleneck owners. While still head of Theranos, Holmes wore one to the office every day, prompting an investigative feature into the sartorial choice from The New York Times. We actually spoke to the woman who convinced Holmes to make it her signature, a Theranos staffer named Ana Arriola, who claims her ex-boss was, “enamored with the style and iconic silhouette of Steve Jobs.” For Halloween this year, compliment a Holmes-esque black turtleneck with thick black eyeliner (applied unevenly) and carry around a tiny test tube filled with fruit punch to emulate the infamous vials of blood fed into Theranos machines. Top it all off with a bleachy blonde wig (also the subject of much investigation).
