Dave actually laughed at me when I packed my clothes for Portland. He wanted to know where the rest of it was.

After a week of poor naps and no naps, and knowing I’d be out celebrating a birthday the night before our 7am flight…well, I had no interest in actually packing. Or coming up with “travel outfits” ala some Lucky Magazine spread.

A huge weight lifted when I realized I’d only need a few things really.

(This post kind of reminds me of that broccoli pasta recipe with 3 ingredients. On one hand, it doesn’t feel like something this simple warrants a post. But, I figure you’d also like to know which 5 pieces from your wardrobe you can take on a trip and never feel under or overdressed. Sometimes, simple solutions are the best solutions. So, I’m going with it.)

The key here, I think, is that no layering is involved. Each of the pieces is minimalist, and the cut and drape are interesting enough to work on their own. Nothing ill-fitting. No flimsy silk shirts that need a cardigan. No cardigans. No layering. I wore more than half of it on the flight, which meant only a few pieces went in my luggage.

Since we were in Portland, I knew I’d be doing some hiking, some hipster shopping, and some fancy dining (cloth napkins!) It’s Portland, so I was anticipating possibly rainy days, mud, chilly evenings, and warm days.

Everything here is versatile enough to morph with each outing and can be layered for an evening chill — I looked slightly dressed on the trail but I had a funky, chicness at dinner. It all worked. And it was easy.

1. Short wool jacket. Mine is 10 years old, but this Zara jacket fits the bill. Zippered up with a scarf, you are ready for cold air. If the sun’s out, it’s small enough that you can roll it up and put it in your backpack. Shorter jackets look better with chunky shoes (and sneakers) too; there’s more of a balance. This jacket, and mine, are navy which also gives an outfit a bit more interest than ALL black on black on black. I love black and navy together.

2. Black pashmina scarf. Or, if you’re me, you’re still wearing your Jolly Jumper Pashmama nursing scarf in black. Pashmina drapes so well that it can look lux in the right setting, it also rolls up into practically nothing if it’s warm out.

3. Slouchy sweater tunic/dress. This MUJI alpaca sweater dress is slouchy yet form-fitting enough that it can pass as a long sweater over jeans. Or you can go as a dress over tights. Either way, it’s casual enough to work well with chunky boots, which is the key here.

4. Everlane sweaters. I just love the cut of Everlane sweaters, and they actually look kind of odd with something layered underneath. Pure, beautiful minimalism. The drape is key here, and a slinky black sweater goes well in all environments. They’re also easy to clean, which is important when you’re only packing a few things on a weekend trip with a toddler.

5. Madewell bracelets. Madewell bracelets will withstand anything (also important with a toddler), and they’re pretty inexpensive. The gold bracelet here breaks up all the black and makes it look intentional.

6. J Crew tissue turtleneck. This is the turtleneck equivalent of that Everlane sweater. The tissue cotton is so flattering and slinky, I hate covering it up. (And it’s on sale right now for $25!) You can veer a little French Academic with a black turtleneck and jeans, but again, the boots help balance it out.

7. My Levi’s black high rise skinny jeans, which I’ve told all of you about. The fabric is thickly woven, hiding flaws and keeping out the chill.

8. The Only Boots You’ll Ever Need (aka Frye Engineer 12R’s). I’ve written about these too. They are perfection — rugged for hiking on muddy paths, a bit of a heel to dress them up, rubber sole for practicality, glorious leather uppers, and possibly waterproof. I know they look kind of clunky but I actually think they make my feet look small. I love them. (Yes, I wear brown boots with black clothes. Black boots would read a little goth to me, which isn’t my style. I think a buttery dark brown goes really well with black fabric. )

9. Black leggings. These are HUE. To be worn with the tunic/dress. Or you can wear black tights.