Emily Abraham, co-founder of Love Luxury and Birkin Queen, has built an empire spanning from Knightsbridge to Dubai on one simple principle: know your stuff better than anyone else.
But Emily's path to becoming the world's leading Hermès authority wasn't easy. Born in 1977, she spent her childhood in foster care after losing her mother at age six. Her Hungarian grandfather, a gold trader, taught her to sort coins and untangle gold chains, basically training her eye for authenticity before she even knew that's what was happening.
From retail jobs and nursing school to launching Love Luxury with her husband, Adam, in 2021, Emily's built something remarkable.
Today, with 1.8 million TikTok followers and as Dubai's go-to Hermès expert, Emily's wardrobe is all about investment-worthy pieces that work impossibly hard. Here are the five items from Love Luxury that Emily considers essential.
Emily's Style Rules: What Makes the Cut?
She doesn't buy for the sake of buying. Every piece earns its spot through a ruthless vetting process.
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Investment Value: Will this hold or appreciate? Emily views handbags as portfolio pieces, not just accessories.
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Timelessness: Trends are exhausting. Classic design outlasts everything. She gravitates toward pieces that won't look dated next season or next decade.
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Craftsmanship: Hundreds of hours of handwork, exceptional materials, heritage techniques, these aren't buzzwords to her; they're requirements.
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Versatility: Can it work for business meetings and weekend brunches? Emily's life moves fast. Her wardrobe keeps up.
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Emotional Connection: There's always a reason beyond practicality. A colour that makes her happy, a silhouette that feels right, a piece that means something.
With those criteria locked in, here are Emily's top five picks from Love Luxury's collection.
1. Hermès Birkin 25 Swift Blue Celeste with Palladium Hardware
Blue Celeste is one of those colours that stops conversations. Not your typical neutral, but it works like one anyway. The Swift leather gives it this incredible sheen, and the Birkin 25 is the perfect size.
Not too big, not too small, holds everything you actually need without turning you into a pack mule.
Emily gravitates toward blues, particularly softer, sophisticated shades. Blue Celeste sits somewhere between sky and powder blue, light enough to feel fresh, rich enough to feel expensive. It elevates a simple outfit without trying too hard.
How she wears it:
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Day: White tailored trousers, cashmere rollneck, loafers. The bag provides all the interest needed.
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Evening: Black slip dress, minimal jewellery. The Birkin is the statement. Nothing else is required.
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Weekend: Dark denim, crisp white shirt, gold jewellery. Effortlessly pulled together without actually trying.
Swift leather Birkins in rare colours appreciate exceptionally well. Blue Celeste got discontinued, which means it gets more valuable every year. Collectors hunt for this, and Emily knows this bag will hold its value significantly over time.
Shop: Hermès Birkin 25 Swift Blue Celeste
2. Hermès Kelly 25 Retourné Togo Étope with Gold Hardware
If Emily could only own one bag forever, it might genuinely be a Kelly 25 in Etoupe. That's the ultimate neutral, this perfect greige that adapts to literally everything. The Retourné style is softer and more relaxed than rigid Sellier, which suits how humans actually live versus how we pretend we live on Instagram.
Etoupe is Hermès' masterclass in sophisticated neutrality. Not quite grey, not quite beige, it's the chameleon of colours. Gold hardware adds warmth without screaming for attention.
How Emily Wears It:
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Business meetings: Tailored navy suit, white shirt. The Kelly adds elegance without demanding centre stage.
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Lunch dates: Camel coat, black trousers, ankle boots. Effortless European chic that looks accidental (it's not).
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Travel: Comfortable knit dress, long cardigan, trainers. The Kelly elevates even airport casualness into something worth photographing.
Kelly 25 is one of the most requested sizes globally. Everyone wants one. Etoupe in Togo leather is a timeless combination that never stops being in demand. Gold hardware is classic. This bag would sell in literal hours if Emily ever considered parting with it.
Shop: Hermès Kelly 25 Retourné Togo Étoûpe
3. Hermès Birkin 25 Togo Black with Rose Gold Hardware
Black Togo Birkins are the foundation of serious Hermès collections. Non-negotiable. But rose gold hardware? That's what makes this special. It's unexpected, softer than traditional gold, more interesting than palladium.
Emily understands the Hermès hierarchy better than most people. Black Birkins are classics, but hardware choice reveals personal style. Rose gold brings warmth and modernity to an icon without messing with perfection.
How Emily Wears It:
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Formal events: Black gown, diamond jewellery. The rose gold hardware complements rather than competes.
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Office days: Grey suit, white shirt, rose gold watch. Cohesive metallics create serious polish.
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Casual elegance: Black jeans, cashmere sweater, ankle boots. The Birkin transforms basics into an outfit.
Black Togo Birkins in size 25 with rose gold hardware are increasingly popular, commanding premiums. Box fresh condition from 2025 with a full set? Investment-grade.
Understanding Hermès stamps helps collectors verify authenticity and dating, crucial for resale value.
Shop: Hermès Birkin 25 Togo Black Rose Gold Hardware
4. Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Bracelet, 5 Motif, Yellow Gold with Diamond
Jewellery needs to work hard in Emily's world. This Van Cleef bracelet is delicate enough for everyday but special enough for events. The five motifs hit the perfect length, not too dainty to disappear, not too statement to overwhelm.
Van Cleef's Alhambra collection has become as iconic as Hermès bags. The clover motif is instantly recognisable, the craftsmanship impeccable. Emily wears this daily; it's become her signature piece, whether she planned that or not.
How Emily Wears It:
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Layered: Stacked with simple gold bangles and her Patek. Creates a collected, personal look that feels authentic rather than styled.
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Solo: With evening wear when elegance matters more than abundance.
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Mixed metals: She pairs it with rose gold pieces, which technically shouldn't work but absolutely does. The yellow gold provides warmth that ties everything together.
Shop: Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Bracelet
5. Patek Philippe Nautilus Ladies Rose Gold with Champagne Dial and Diamond Bezel (Ref. 7118/1200R-010)
The Nautilus changed Emily's entire relationship with watches. Before this, she'd worn pretty jewellery watches, decorative but not serious.
This is both.
The rose gold case, diamond bezel, and champagne dial are feminine without being delicate.
The Nautilus is one of the most iconic sports-luxury watches ever created. The ladies' version in rose gold strikes a perfect balance. Emily wears hers constantly, which is exactly what watches are for.
How Emily Wears It:
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With everything: Genuinely everything. Emily treats this as her daily watch because watches should be worn, not saved for special occasions that never come.
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Layered: She stacks it with the Van Cleef bracelet and gold bangles, creating a cohesive rose-gold story on her wrist.
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Solo: When she wants the watch to shine, everything else comes off. The diamond bezel provides enough sparkle for any wrist.
Shop: Patek Philippe Nautilus Rose Gold
How These Five Pieces Work Together
Emily's selections form a system, a luxury capsule that functions across her life in London and Dubai.
The Colours:
Notice the palette: blacks, neutrals (Etoupe), one standout colour (Blue Celeste), and metallics (rose gold, yellow gold). This creates maximum versatility. The bags work with virtually any outfit. The jewellery provides options, she can lean warm (yellow gold) or modern (rose gold), depending on her mood or what she's wearing.
The Metals:
Emily's clever about hardware. Rose gold appears on both the black Birkin and her Patek. Yellow gold on the Van Cleef and the Kelly. Palladium on the Blue Celeste Birkin. She can mix metals thoughtfully or create perfectly cohesive looks depending on the day.
Size Consistency:
All three Hermès bags are size 25, her preferred size. The 25 carries essentials without bulk, looks proportional, and photographs beautifully.
Day-to-Night Magic:
Every piece transitions seamlessly. The Kelly works for business and weekend brunches. The Nautilus elevates denim or complements gowns. The Van Cleef layers casually or shines solo at galas. Nothing is single-purpose, which is exactly how luxury should work.
Ready to Shop Emily’s Look?
Look, anyone can buy expensive things.
Money solves that problem pretty quickly.
But building a wardrobe that actually works? That requires something else entirely.
Emily's five picks are about understanding that luxury should do more than sit in dust bags waiting for a special occasion.
These five pieces from Love Luxury represent what becomes possible when you stop buying what you think you should want and start choosing what actually works for how you live. That's not just smart shopping. That's fashion figured out.
Happy shopping, loves!
