 Born in London to an American father Samuel Charles (Buddy) Weiner and British mother Brahna Betty Weiner.Elizabeth was educated at the City of London School for Girls and then, upon leaving school, Elizabeth took a year's foundation course at the Harrow School of Art, followed by a three-year diploma course in Fashion Design.At Harrow she met and married David Emanuel in 1976, and together they became the first married couple to be accepted by the Royal College of Art for a two-year master's degree in Fashion.