
The Not-So-Basic Closet Staples Minimalists Are Wearing Into The Office This Fall

Call it a cliché but when you look good you feel good which is why I take pleasure in getting dressed for work even on the days I dread going into the office. Although I have a bit more flexibility working in fashion, expressing oneself through outfits even with a corporate dress code can significantly increase mood and creativity.
For most of us, it's been two years of Zoom meetings in our favorite t-shirt and sweatpants so I’m excited to get back to chic yet comfortable trend-forward looks that mean business. No matter your industry, a minimal take on casual workwear is my favorite go-to inspiration because of its effortlessly sleek take on comfort combined with affordability regardless of budget.
Whether you prefer wide-leg trousers paired with an oversized button-down or a blazer and denim combination worn with your favorite statement boots, I’ve enlisted two of my favorite minimalists to share their go-to workwear items they’ll be rotating this fall.
Less is more when it comes to sophisticated elegance, so take notes of these key items to refresh your workwear wardrobe that’ll surely get you noticed for all the right reasons.
Aissata
Gaining popularity on TikTok for her minimal fashion-forward style, Aissata inspires her 20,000 followers with her weekly round-up of everyday corporate outfits. Her effortless cool girl nature is achieved with a combination of neutral tones, oversized fits, and statement pieces styled to perfection.
1. Classic Blazer
“A classic blazer is a must for work this fall because it can make any look pulled together. I love throwing mine over a basic T-shirt with a pair of relaxed jeans to balance out the casualness of the rest of the outfit and it’s a formula that works every time.”
2. Loafers/Mules
“Not only are loafers/mules chic but they can also bring comfort to your work outfit. I have a pair of Gucci loafers that I grab every time when I need comfort. I also love kitten heel mules for those in-between seasons like fall or spring when I feel like adding a little something to elevate my work outfits.”
3. Neutral Trousers
“A good pair of neutral color trousers. They’re so versatile and can be dressed up or down. They're also really good at balancing out a casual work look and bringing it back to looking professional.”
Six
Her current Instagram series, “30 days of Outfits” is a girl’s guide to effortlessly cool looks when it comes to those of us with a bit more flexibility with our office attire. Mixing sportswear with casual pieces is a great way to keep it cute and casual with a hybrid work schedule. These are key pieces that are flexible between working from both the coffee shop and the office according to Six.
4. Oversized Button Down
“This piece is great because it’s comfy yet structured and can elevate almost any casual piece easily. For example, pairing a crisp white button with sweats and a pump takes business casual to a whole new level.”
5. Bomber Jacket
“I’m loving these for fall because they are warm and have so much versatility. For office dressing, adding a comfort element is always key for me. you can pair an oversized bomber with a structured dress and boots or even a fitted bomber with trousers and loafers and not only look put together but add a bit of edge to classic office staples.”
6. Maxi Skirt
“Asymmetrical, long, pleated, fitted, baggy, there are so many skirt styles that are hot and which make playing with them for the office so much fun. I’m loving the skirt suit with loafers or a bootie, a good button down tucked into a pleated skirt gives a mix of school girl but office appropriate when paired properly.”
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Featured image courtesy of Aissata/Instagram
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On her debut album,CTRL,SZA crooned about her desire to be a “Normal Girl.” Now, nearly eight years since its release, her Not Beauty line represents her commitment to existing outside of traditional beauty norms.
The singer whose real name is Solána Imani Rowe first teased the idea of a lip gloss line during Super Bowl LIX in February, noting that the release would be happening “very shortly.” Not Beauty debuted simultaneously with the Grand National Tour, which she co-headlines with Kendrick Lamar, in Minneapolis on April 19.
Each Not Beauty pop-up would offer fans the opportunity to purchase the glosses, learn more about the brand, and have the opportunity to meet the superstar in the flesh regardless of their ticket status.
During the Los Angeles tour stop, which spanned three dates on May 21, May 23, with the finale on May 24, xoNecole had the opportunity to test out the glosses included in this soft launch, as SZA revealed in a statement that "this is just the start of other lip products, including plans to launch stains, liners, and creams all inspired by SZA's “infamous layered lip combinations.”
Courtesy
So, what is included in the first Not Beauty launch?
The current Not Beauty products available are lip glosses that come in three shades: In the Flesh, Strawberry Jelly, and Quartz.
During my visit to the first LA Not Beauty pop-up activation, I not only had the chance to purchase all three glosses but also took a peek inside the blow-up log tent. Inside, fans got to experience SZA’s love for nature and her fascination with bugs, which are prominently featured in her performances for this tour. At one point, she even had human preying mantis prancing across the stage y'all.
There were blow-up photos of the beauty that is SZA for fans (myself included) to take photos, but in wooden-like tree trunks were a deeper dive into some of the ingredients featured in her products and their benefits.
For example, the glosses feature Hi-Shine Lip Jelly and Shea Butter as key ingredients and some of the listed benefits included are:
- Shea Butter - “A powerhouse ingredient, offering both functional and nourishing benefits.”
- Hi-Shine Lip Jelly (featured in the In the Flesh shade) - “Formula glides on with perfect adhesion to the lips without stickiness).
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What are in the products?
Featured in an orange package, with images of a bug and flower on the side, the back of the box reads: “It’s NOT BEAUTY, it just works. Developed by Solána “SZA” Rowe.
As someone who never leaves home without a good lip gloss, I loved how compact the wood panel packaging is. Perfect to slip into my purse, or in the case of the show at SoFi Stadium, into my pocket when I’m not carrying a bag.
Because I’m a sucker for a good black and brown lip liner and clear gloss combo, I decided to wear the Quartz flavor on night one of the Grand National Tour LA stop, and it did not disappoint. I’ll admit, it’s light weight feel made me nervous because it felt like there was nothing on my lips. However, when I checked my lips in my compact mirror several times throughout the night, I was shocked to find that my gloss was still intact. I only reapplied once out of the habit of looking cute and applying my gloss, but not necessity.
Here are some of the ingredients featured, but not limited to, in the Quartz flavor.
- Polyisoubutene
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)Butter
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
- Tocopherol
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Lip prep
I’m a simple girl who loves to stay true to her roots. So ahead of the show, I stopped by a local Inglewood Beauty Supply store and grabbed a Black and Brown shade lip pencil for just under $2 a piece.
Shading the outline of my lips with the black pencil first, I used the brown to lightly fill the inside of my lips before applying my Quartz Not Beauty shade gloss.
How to apply
There’s truly no right or wrong way to apply lip gloss (in my opinion), with this being a brush applicator sort of product, I simply untwisted the top and swiped the gloss around my top and bottom lip generously.
Courtesy
Results
Again, my Not Beauty Quartz product stayed on my lips from the start of the show, which began with a fire DJ set from LA’s very own, Mustard, to the conclusion when Kendrick and SZA reunited on stage to send us home to their duet, “luther,” featured on the rapper's GNX album.
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Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole