Getting dressed for spring can be tricky at times, as the weather can be quite fickle. Oftentimes, it's chilly in the morning, but it warms up quickly by the afternoon. That's why light layers are the best option when putting together an outfit. There's one basic that comes to mind that fits every need for building a look. It's casual and slightly sporty and looks so chic with a pair of white jeans: a zip-up pullover.

Polo knits are having a major moment for spring 2026, but the quarter-zip pullover, in particular, is a basic that's routinely part of the effortlessly cool outfits fashion people and celebrities are wearing in 2026. For example, Emilia Clarke was just spotted wearing a gray zip-up pullover with wide-leg white jeans and a brown trench coat. She accessorized with a belt-buckle bag and a pair of chocolate-brown suede loafers by Prada. A zip-up pullover with white jeans looks polished and sophisticated without trying too hard.

If you're on the hunt for the perfect light layer to wear, keep scrolling to re-create Clarke's outfit and shop more zip-up pullovers and white jeans.

Spotted on Emilia Clarke

On Emilia Clarke: Phoebe Philo Big Trench in Sage Cotton ($3900); Prada Chocolate Suede Loafers ($1270) and Buckle Large Leather Bag With Belt ($6500)

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My first true exposure to the expansive work of Emilia Clarke was in the 2016 romantic drama Me Before You, where the actress starred opposite Sam Claflin in the role of Lou, a quirky and cheerful young woman who finds herself as a caregiver. Many, however, were first introduced to the British actress in HBO's hit series Game of Thrones, as Daenerys Targaryen, a fierce warrior queen who took to the skies on the back of dragons. No matter how you 'met' Clarke, there's no denying you've seen her face flash across your television screen at one time or another.

Following the conclusion of the latter (and a worldwide pandemic that swept the film industry into its turmoil), Clarke has more than a few impressive projects under her belt for the next year and a role with Clinique as one of their ambassadors. We chatted with the actress about her go-to beauty and wellness routines, projects we should be keeping an eye out for, and a change in pace of life post Game of Thrones. 

What kind of projects can we expect from you in 2023?

I've got my Marvel TV show coming out in the summer (which is very exciting) and I also have a little indie that I shot last year that's coming out in the summer as well. And then I go off to shoot a movie in October so that won't come out in 2023, but that's what my 2023 looks like right now.

Moving on to a little about beauty: could you walk us through how you're incorporating Clinique's new Moisture Surge SPF into your routine?

I do it every morning! I cleanse, tone, and moisturize, and knowing that now I have moisturizer that even if I forget to put my extra SPF on there's a little bit there, you feel like a goody two shoes. You know what I mean? Like, 'Aha I won! I did what everyone told me to do and I didn't even have to try!' 

And it's the same delicious texture. I have dry sensitive skin, so I need any moisturizer that's going to really give my skin what it needs. It's a game changer for my routine.

Are you a daily SPF user and why is it important to you?

SPF is basically what everyone says you've got to do and I'm a latecomer to it. I mean I always wear SPF in the summer! I can absolutely guarantee I've never not done that especially on holiday to the point where I'm wearing a hat the whole time as well as Factor 80 on my face). But then I get back to London and I'm like, 'I'm not on holiday so I'm not going to do that.' 

So, I'm trying to force myself to start wearing it no matter the season no matter what's going on. It's the easiest, simplest thing you can do to prevent your skin from drying out, getting age spots, or wrinkles. It's something that is non-invasive and relatively cheap.

What other skincare products are non negotiable for you?

I cleanse, I tone, I moisturize every morning and every night. That there, that's something I have to do. I also use a jade roller in the morning and sometimes I use a sheet mask as well and I keep all those things in the fridge. My skin genuinely gets so dry. So, yeah I would say I'm a big hydration kind of gal.

I love that! Let's talk a little about affirmations since I hear you're practicing them. How have they positively affected your daily routine?

Every morning I do my yoga and I meditate and I'll finish that whole practice with an affirmation. I'm tuning it to whatever I need that day and to how much I need to calm down or prep before entering my day. It really helps to put a hand on your chest because it feels supportive. It feels like you've got yourself and that's something you can re-tap into.

I'll also finish my journaling at night with affirmations for going into sleep to be like, 'the day is done, you're amazing, everything is wonderful, your exactly where you should be—let's go!'

Do you also do some gratitude journaling in addition to that?

Yeah! I got into gratitude listing in my head. I was having a bit of a tricky time and I found myself trying to just get down the simplest stuff that I as grateful for. This is kind of silly, but I live in a very old house. The plumbing is the least reliable thing you could possible imagine.There are days when the shower is cold so on the days when the shower is hot (this is something I've done consistently now) I'm like, 'thank you! I am so grateful for hot water.' It's so simple, but my God am I grateful for it.

I've also been growing my hair and trying to really take care of my hair. When I'm blow drying my hair I'm like, 'I did it! I grew my hair!' Really simple, tiny little things. But the more that you do, the more grateful your are for them. It's just like a scientific fact at this point. So yeah, I do it to keep things from getting too muddy in my head.

Amazing! So, moving on to red carpet looks. Are there any that have been your favorite lately?

Yes! As in what I did or what other people are doing?

I was hoping to find out your favorites from what you've done but if you've seen any you've loved from other people—go for it!

Okay because there's some women doing the red carpet lately and I'm like, 'oh my god that's amazing!' My favorite red carpet look [I've worn] was the last time I was at the Emmy's in 2018. Pre-pandemic nine thousand years ago at the Emmys! I felt so fierce. The shoes were ridiculous, my feet were bleeding by the end but it was worth it.

You've definitely worn some amazing outfits (especially in Game of Thrones!) How has post Game of Thrones Life been?

Post Game of Thrones life has been lovely. I've been having a great time! I will never wear costumes that beautiful again in my life unless I have the privilege of working with Michelle Clapton again. But she definitely makes costumes that looked great but felt horrific. You couldn't pay me to be in a corset again! They had to take me out of my costumes before I could eat. It looked amazing but—the price!

Are there any red carpet looks you've picked up over the years and have you picked up any tips on set?

On set is sort of the time where I would ask what product they were using. But because it's character makeup, it's normally how they're applying it that I'm paying attention to rather than what they're applying because it's so specific to the character. For red carpets, my amazing makeup artist Lynsey Alexander taught me that when you're doing an eyeliner flick with a liquid eyeliner, the way to make it perfect is by using a q-tip more than you're using the product.

You put on the eyeliner and then, with one of those really thin q-tips, you flick it to how you want it so you don't have to spend hours trying to perfect it! You can just put that eyeliner on and then get your q-tip and form it to how you want. Your eyeliner flick should look like an extra eyelash. That's how you open the eyes up!

I did want to ask you about your brows since they're bold, big, and beautiful. What do you do to them? 

I leave them alone but I do get them threaded so I don't look like Elmo! You know how sometimes you get eyebrow hairs that are down here? I'm not shaping them, but I'm just threading excess and then I brush them and that's it. 

They're absolutely beautiful and so expressive! Now, if you had to give your younger self some advice, what would you say?

Don't ever bleach your hair. Oh no! It's too late. You already did. Also, to always cleanse and moisturize but I always have done that so it's really tricky. My younger self had as good as an idea about what worked for my skin as I do, but I've tried all the different things and now I'm right back to where I started.

Shop A Few Of Our Favorites From Clinique

Up next, Ciara Just Told Me She Uses These 6 Key Beauty Products Every Day

Say hello to Unfiltered, a fresh, new beauty series where you’ll get an exclusive glimpse into the dressed-down beauty routines of our favorite celebrities. They’ll reveal their guilty-pleasure beauty practices, the five-minute routine product lineup they can’t live without, the one good-skin tip they’ll be forever thankful for, and so much more. To bring every conversation full circle, we ask each celebrity to send us a selection of self-shot, filter-free photos of their choosing to capture the essence of their Unfiltered beauty philosophy. 

Up next, we’re getting to know actor and Clinique Brand Ambassador Emilia Clarke. As a fellow skincare enthusiast and product junkie, she’s answering all of our rapid-fire questions and sharing her best-kept beauty secrets below. Enjoy!

If you had to leave the house in five minutes, what are a few staple beauty products you’d apply or bring with you?

So, if I’ve only got 5 minutes, I would do… I’m assuming I’ve already washed my face?

Yes, face is washed!

Then I would do the Clinique's Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum ($69), I would whack on some Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator ($56), then I would do my mascara and a red lip. I could do that in five minutes.

Well, now I’m obligated to ask which red lip because you’re wearing a red right now, and it’s amazing. 

It’s good, right?! It’s—wait, let me just triple check—Clinique Pop Reds in Red-Handed ($20)! But what Clinique does, which is just so smart, is they match your lip color to your foundation so that it is the perfect red for your skin tone. Because that’s the hardest thing! A red can look amazing on someone else, and then you try it on, and it doesn’t work.

Totally. Okay, I wanted to jump back to your skin prep for a second, can you walk me through your skincare routine, both morning and night?

So my morning and night routine are actually exactly the same thing. I like to double cleanse, so I start with Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm ($34), which is an oil cleanser that dissolves all the makeup and just gets everything off. I’ll remove that, and move on to the All About Clean All-in-One Cleansing Micellar Milk + Makeup Remover ($25) which really nourishes and cleanses my skin. Next, I’ll use my Clarifying Lotion ($29) which I use like a toner to make sure everything is off and everything is really clean and then the Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum ($69) which—whisper it—is an anti-wrinkle cream [laughs]. So, I put that serum on, which has been transformative for my mid-thirties skin and top it off with the Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator ($56). And that’s my morning and night!

Clinique is such an iconic brand. Do you remember the first product you ever used or do you have any other nostalgic memories associated with the brand?

Well, a nostalgic memory would be that it was just always so present in my life. I mean, my mum taught me Clinique's three-step routine when I was so little. But the product I first got hooked on was the High Impact Mascara ($21). It’s what I’ve consistently used throughout my life, and it’s always sold out because it’s what everyone else is using. It’s genius. Mascara is a big deal for me, so I just use it to whack on a lot of coats.

Do you have any other secret lash tips? Do you curl them before you do mascara?

Yeah, I always curl my lashes. I have one of those mirrors that you can put flat on a surface in front of you—so it’s facing the ceiling—and I actually look down at it as I apply my mascara, really thinking about getting it to the end of my lashes. l apply it underneath my lashes as most people do, but then I add a coat on top of my lashes, as well. 

Okay, I'm trying it the Emilia way next time I do my makeup! It's interesting because I think a lot of people have begun to think of their makeup or skincare regimens as self-care, especially in the past year and a half or so. Do you have any other wellness or self-care practices you rely on to de-stress or stay centered?

Yes, so I sound really virtuous when I say this, but I really do it. Every morning I meditate for 10 minutes and then I do about 15 minutes of yoga. It’s just from my memory, and it’s a routine I put together that really works for me. I’m not doing it to get a sweat on, I’m literally doing it to awaken my body, make sure I’m breathing properly, get out all of my crooks or tweaks I might have from sleeping awkwardly. And the meditation… I just need it to reset my brain and to start the day in the calmest way possible.

Completely, especially these days when the first thing we typically look at when we wake up is a screen or social media.

Yes, exactly.

Okay, switching gears here a bit! As an actor, you’ve been able to experiment with so many different beauty looks via the characters you’ve portrayed—what’s been the most fun?

I mean, Daenerys! She’s the most consistent one I think. [Laughs] I mean, getting to wear that wig and having all that glorious hair. Getting to have dragons! And getting to be so very far away from me was just a joy from start to finish.

I think every single person would love to be Daenerys for a day [laughs]. But also, I don’t think there is a person on this planet who doesn’t have serious eyebrow envy when it comes to your brows—do you have any top grooming tips? Were you like the rest of us and did you ever completely over-pluck?

No, so my mum brought me up with very strict brow regimens in that I wasn’t allowed to touch them at all. I didn’t tweeze them, I didn’t do anything with them. I now thread them to, you know, make sure I don’t have a unibrow or start looking like Elmo and to just get the little strays or whatever. But I just brush them and that’s it.

So you don’t fill them in or use any type of makeup product on them.

Well, Clinique does have a really beautiful brow brush that has some color on it—the Just Browsing Brush-On Styling Mousse ($20). But I don’t need much. Like, if I do a lot, it’s way too much. So if I’m going out in the evening or getting dressed up for something, then I will do that and it does make a difference on my face, but I’m not doing that every day. I keep that for special occasions [laughs].

Is there anything about your beauty routine that would surprise people?

Umm, that it is so long?! Oh! No, I’ll tell you what. In my bathroom, I actually bought a mini-fridge, like a baby, baby fridge—you can get them real cheap—and that sits underneath my sink and I put my sheet masks and eye creams in there. Or, if I know I have something big the next day, I’ll even put my Moisture Surge in there. You just put it on, and it’s like Whewwww!

It wakes you up! It’s such a good trick. And it definitely helps with puff and all that nice stuff as well. 

Yes, yes exactly. 

Closing question! What’s your Unfiltered beauty philosophy in seven words or less?

I’m going to struggle with seven words, I already know.

[Laughs] You can go over, it’s okay! Or you can go with seven words but provide some context.

Well, I believe that true beauty lies in your individuality. It isn’t about comparing and contrasting yourself with what society deems beautiful in whatever month or whatever year it is. The most beautiful people… the most beautiful moments you find in people are when they're in the middle of laughing out loud, spitting food out of their mouth because they find something so funny, or when they're doing the thing that sets them alight. When they are with their friends. You notice the energy people give off when they’re happy and when they’re not thinking about being beautiful. That’s absolutely it. The people who think about being beautiful all the time are not beautiful—it’s just that weird paradox.

Shop Emilia's Unfiltered Beauty Edit

While we are very much looking forward to spring, the weather has yet to get to a stage where we are actually able to start wearing our favourite spring looks. Thankfully, celebrities such as Emilia Clarke are still stepping out in enviable winter outfits, providing adequate inspiration to get us through this last stretch of cold days. 

Spotted outside BBC Radio 2 today, Clarke braved the elements in a cosy, colour-coordinated look which consisted of a camel coat, a beige-and-black knitted jumper and a belted black pencil skirt. 

Proving she can look just as stylish in casual attire as she does during red carpet events, Clarke finished the look with a pair of burgundy knee-high boots and Celine's recently released Boston bag in Triomphe canvas.

It seems Celine's decision to revive its Triomphe canvas print is proving very successful, as Clarke is not the first celebrity to be spotted carrying a style from the brand's new handbag collection. In fact, just last week, during Milan Fashion Week, Kaia Gerber was also seen toting a bag from Celine's new range. Given these two stylish endorsements, we can only assume Celine's latest bag collection is set to be a must-have among the fashion set in the coming months. Keep scrolling to see and shop Emilia's latest look.

On Emilia Clarke: Celine Boston Bag in Triomphe Canvas (£1110)

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Next up, the biggest S/S 20 fashion trends you need to know. 

Out of all the items in your wardrobe, nothing has a transformative power quite like a really good coat—they can make an outfit instantly feel more polished or considered, which is why choosing which winter coat to invest in can be a difficult decision. I find that the best coats are usually the classics in elevated colors and with timeless silhouettes, but looking for subtle detailing and tweaks can make these feel extra special and current. This week Emilia Clarke has a schedule packed with interviews and red carpets as she is promoting her upcoming film Last Christmas, and her coat game has been particularly epic.

If you want to make coats look more expensive, we often advise going up a size or looking for a longer hemline or more oversize fit, especially when it comes to tailored wool styles. Clarke demonstrates this perfectly with her oversize calf-skimming camel coat that she wore over a pinstripe Dolce & Gabbana suit in New York. In fact, she's applied this "bigger is better" rule to all of her outerwear this autumn, wearing a floor-length beige trench coat by Gabriella Hearst and sweeping trenches around New York. Keep scrolling to see the amazing coats Emilia has been wearing this week. 

Oversize Camel Coat

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Gray Tailored Coat

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Beige Trench Coat

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Beige Cotton Trench

Shop her Coat:

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.

Out of all the items in your wardrobe, nothing has a transformative power quite like a really good coat—they can make an outfit instantly feel more polished or considered, which is why choosing which winter coat to invest in can be a difficult decision. I find that the best coats are usually the classics in elevated colours and with timeless silhouettes, but looking for subtle detailing and tweaks can make these feel extra special and current. This week Emilia Clarke has a diary packed with interviews and red carpets as she is promoting her upcoming film Last Christmas, and her coat game has been particularly epic.

If you want to make coats look more expensive, we often advise going up a size or looking for a longer hemline or more oversize fit, especially when it comes to tailored wool styles. Emilia Clarke demonstrates this perfectly with her oversize calf-skimming camel coat that she wore over a pinstripe Dolce & Gabbana suit in New York yesterday. In fact, she's applied this 'bigger is better' rule to all of her outerwear this autumn, wearing a floor-length beige trench coat by Gabriella Hearst and sweeping trenches around New York. Keep scrolling to see the amazing coats Emilia has been wearing this week. 

Oversized Camel Coat

Shop Similar:

Grey Tailored Coat

Shop Similar:

Beige Trench Coat

Shop Similar:

Beige Cotton Trench

Shop her Coat:

Next up, see our guide to the best winter coats.

Lest you thought the white-shoe trend was a fleeting one, think again: The sleek (albeit occasionally impractical) style is still going strong, routinely spotted on some of our top style crushes. The most recent sighting? None other than the Mother of Dragons, Emilia Clarke. The Game of Thrones actress touched down in L.A. in a sophisticated ensemble featuring a sharp blazer, skinny jeans, and The Row's covetable white mules. (If anyone wants to loan us the $990 needed to purchase them, we'll accept.) The understated yet timeless outfit is perfect for jet-setting—or work or lunch with friends—and shows the shoe's utter versatility. If you were hesitant to jump on the bandwagon before, perhaps this latest celeb sighting will convince you to give in to the trend before spring hits.

Scroll to see and shop her look.

On Emilia Clarke: The Row Flora Wedge Mules ($990); Oliver Peoples MP-2 Matte Black Sunglasses ($455)

Similar Styles: H&M Oversized Jacket ($50)

Next up, check out what Emilia and many other starlets wore on the Golden Globes red carpet. 

Being short causes no end of fashion drama: I have to hem everything—from trousers to jackets, no sleeve or leg is ever left untouched. Myriad problems create quite the shopping and styling obstacle course: For petite girls, flares become skinny jeans in the flash of a pair of scissors and midi skirts are easily more like maxis. Don't even get me started on re-creating purposefully frayed edges. Nightmare.

Which is part of the reason why I'm thrilled to see Emilia Clarke (aka Game of Thrones' Daenarys Targaryen aka the leading lady in new film release, Me Before You, aka the most smiley girl in Hollywood) smashing it out and about on the promo circuit.

It's great to see this pint-sized beauty (she's just 5'1.5", the very same height as me), in conjunction with her über stylist, Kate Young, breaking some style rules and scooping up plenty of outfit accolades along the way. Her most noticeable tricks? Clarke has an impressive roster of dresses—from princess-like frocks courtesy of Russian couturier Ulyana Sergeenko through to classic body-hugging numbers from Dolce and Gabbana—all with clever, subtle differences that make them petite girl–friendly.

So, if you ever experience #shortgirlproblems like me—or simply love the look of Emilia's red carpet style—go through the gallery below as we decode her pretty, petite ensembles…

Style Notes: This Ulyana Sergeenko dress does very clever body-lengthening things thanks to its classical décolletage-scooping neckline and fitted bodice. The peplum and graduated lace also help subtly draw the eye down. Barely-there metallic heels are also a wiser choice for petite girls than anything chunky.

Style Notes: A lot of petite girls feel like this length of midi dress is out of bounds—but I'd beg to differ. With a flash of skin both at the top and bottom of this look, plus a fitted, flirty skirt style, it's totally doable. Same-colour pointed pumps also help stretch the look out. She has Dolce & Gabanna to thank for this fashion moment.

Style Notes: Again, the graduated lines of ruffles and detailing on this stunning Alexander McQueen dress do all the hard work for us short girls. A sliver of ankle also does wonders and a waist belt is forever a good idea—especially when it's embellished with the brand's madcap symbolism.

Style Notes: Body-skimming column dresses, like this divine velvet number from Erdem, are ideal after-dark wear: The expanse of flesh up top instantly lengthens the look while simple two-strap sandals don't fight for attention.

Related: 5 Flattering Style Tricks I Learned From Being 5’2”

Style Notes: This look proves you can wear a voluminous dress when you're small—the slim slip underneath balances out the frothy tulle, and Emilia's favourite two-strap sandals are back out to play.

Style Notes: Are you starting to see a recurring theme here? Bodice top + midi skirt = a very good idea. This knockout number is from Bottega Veneta.

Style Notes: Sometimes, as a petite girl, I find short sleeves can look stunted, but there's something about the deep V-neckline on this Roksanda dress that does the opposite—10/10 again.

Style Notes: Even the more daunting prospect of a trouser suit is no match for Emilia: The slim, tailored fit of this Altuzarra number, worn with sky-high heels sans top, works a treat.

Related: Let's All Applaud VB's Incredible Trick That Makes Her Look Taller

Style Notes: This Chloé dress is a stunner, but potentially a swamper, too. So props to Emilia for ensuring that despite plenty of ruffle-action the waist is snugly fitted and that you can see a her metallic sandals peeking out from under.

Style Notes: This is the ultimate shape for petite girls everywhere—the classic sheath dress. And in red? Just jaw-droppingly good.

Style Notes: By choosing a shift that features detailing on the top and bottom—not in the middle, which shortens—this pretty Peter Pilotto dress is just right.

Style Notes: Another day, another gorgeous Dolce dress. This long-line super-sculptural idea is far more flattering than a prom silhouette.

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