What to Wear for Farm Work: Real-Life Outfits Built for Long Days
Meet the couple behind Red’s Root Cellar, and the hardworking clothes that keep up with life on the farm.
Some people get dressed for the day ahead. Alysha and Nic Merenz get dressed for whatever the farm decides the day is going to look like.
The sunlight streaming in on one morning might mean working through a list of projects outside. Another sunrise might bring irrigation repairs, tools scattered across the property, and a hundred
little things that need doing before the day is over. Add a four-year-old to the mix, and each day is full of surprises.
For Alysha, the trick is finding clothes that can handle all of it without losing the personal style she loves.
“I would describe myself as alternative boho blue collar,” she says.
Her partner, Nic, takes a more straightforward approach. He's looking for comfortable, dependable gear that can take a beating and keep going. Together, the two run Red’s Root Cellar, a market farm built around growing food and sharing it with their community.
They've been together for nearly 15 years, and their lives have grown right alongside the farm. What started as an interest in homesteading turned into something much bigger: a business, a
family project, and a way to help feed the people around them.
This time, they're checking in at the Broken Inn for a night away from the usual routine. We're getting to know the people behind the farm, talking about the clothes they actually wear, and
finding out why some of the best pieces in a wardrobe are the ones that don't need to be saved for a special occasion.
How the farm became a part of their story
The story of Red’s Root Cellar started with a question: Where does our food come from, and how much of it can we grow ourselves?
Nic was interested in homesteading, but Alysha wasn't immediately sold on the idea. Over time, she became more involved, and the garden started getting bigger.
Then came COVID.
Alysha had her own small business and found herself unable to work for several months. Rather than sit still, she put her energy into growing food. That summer, they built around 15 raised
garden beds, with the intention of feeding themselves and helping friends and neighbors who were navigating an uncertain time.
Before long, Alysha was growing food for other people, too. The garden became a market farm, and what began as a practical experiment grew into a business with a bigger purpose.
Today, she wants to make fresh produce more accessible to her community and hopes to create opportunities for people to learn how to grow their own food. For Alysha, the reward is getting to share something she has grown with her own hands.
“I grow beautiful things, I grow flowers, I grow food, and I get to feed people.”
It's a pretty good reason to keep showing up.
It's also a job that calls for clothing that can handle long days, changing weather, and plenty of movement. Which begs the question, when there are so many uncertainties in your day, what clothes can you depend on holding up?
Alysha’s Outfit: The Ultimate Alternative Boho Blue Collar Outfit
Sendero Call Me Darlin’ Hat
Alysha starts with the Sendero Call Me Darlin’ Hat in white, and the message on it comes with a story.
At first glance, “Darlin’” sounds like the kind of easygoing phrase you'd expect to find on a Western-inspired hat. But for Alysha, the idea of being called by her name hits a little differently.
As a woman working in agriculture, she wants to be recognized for who she is and what she does, not reduced to being “the cute girl that walked in.” She wants to be taken seriously for her work and known on her own terms.
That makes this hat more than an accessory. It's a little bit of personality, a little bit of humor, and a reminder that Alysha gets to define herself.
Sendero's Call Me Darlin’ Hat has an unstructured five-panel design, corduroy construction, a semi-curved visor, rope detailing, and puff embroidery. The result is a casual cap with enough
texture and character to stand out without trying too hard.
For Alysha, the meaning behind the words is what makes it a favorite. It fits her style, but it also says something about the person wearing it.
And that's a great way to start an outfit.
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Sendero Provisions CO Men's Logo Hat$0.00 $31.99
Smith + Rogue Women’s Pointelle Tank Top
Alysha's Smith + Rogue Pointelle Tank is proof that a farm wardrobe can have a few fun characteristic details just for the fun of it.
She likes the texture, the buttons, and the way the tank looks a little more considered than a basic everyday top. It still has the simplicity she needs for working outside, but it is versatile enough to be worn for multiple occassions.
The tank is made from 100% premium hand-picked Tanguis cotton. Smith + Rogue designed it for warm Western summer days, with a lightweight, breathable fabric that allows heat and moisture to escape. The button-down front also gives it some versatility when it comes to styling and layering.
For Alysha, that's the sweet spot. She needs something comfortable enough to move around in, especially when the day gets hot, but she still wants to like what she's wearing.
It's an easy piece to wear on its own with jeans and boots, or layer when the weather changes.
Nothing complicated, nothing precious. Just a good top with a little more personality than the average tank.
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Smith + Rogue Women's Pointelle Tank Top$0.00 $24.00 -
Smith + Rogue Women's Surf Tank Top$0.00 $11.97 - $22.00 -
Smith + Rogue Women's Standard Tank Top$0.00 - $9.97 $21.00 -
Smith + Rogue Women's Racerback Tank Top$0.00 - $9.97 $21.00 -
Smith + Rogue Women's Pima Muscle Tank Top$0.00 $24.00
Levi’s Women’s 501 Jeans
Ask Alysha about her Levi’s 501s, and she doesn't need much time to think about her answer. “They are my favorite pair of jeans that I own.”
That's high praise from someone whose clothes regularly go through the kind of work that doesn't leave much room for babying a favorite pair.
The Women's 501s bring together the classic straight-leg silhouette, button fly, and familiar five-pocket design that have made the style a denim staple for generations. Depending on the specific wash and version, 501s are available in both rigid, non-stretch denim and versions with a little stretch, so the exact composition is worth checking against Alysha's pair.
What matters most here is how she wears them. Alysha likes the higher rise, the button fly, and the way the jeans look while still being comfortable enough for her day-to-day routine. She's put them through plenty of farm work, and she says they've held up wonderfully.
For someone who spends the day moving, bending, lifting, and getting things done, a favorite pair of jeans has to be more than a good fit in the mirror. It has to feel right when there's actual
work to do.
Alysha's 501s do both. They're the jeans she reaches for because she likes how they look, and they're the jeans she keeps wearing because they've earned their place in her rotation.
BRUNT The Ohman 6-Inch Soft Toe Slip-On Work Boots
Alysha has a very specific requirement for her work boots.
“I am someone who cannot be bothered with laces.”
When you're trying to get out the door and into a full day of work, having boots you can slip on and go is a pretty appealing place to start.
Her BRUNT Ohman Slip-On Work Boots check that box. But convenience isn't the only reason she likes them. As a runner, Alysha pays attention to arch support and how her feet feel after a
long day.She says the boots have been comfortable and supportive, and she's been wearing
this pair for almost a year.
BRUNT designed The Ohman around all-day comfort for people who spend their days on their feet. The boot features a lightweight, breathable construction, a cushioned BRUNT CUSH’N
insole system, and a supportive polyurethane midsole. Its FARMGUARD leather is designed to resist barnyard conditions, while the outsole is rated for slip, oil, and high-heat resistance. The
model also includes BRUNT's SWITCH-FIT system, which allows the fit to be adjusted between regular and relaxed widths.
For Alysha, the appeal is simple: easy to get on, comfortable to wear, and ready to work. And after nearly a year of regular use, they're not just a new pair of boots that look good. They've become part of the routine.
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Danner Men's Bull Run Chelsea 6" Work Boots$0.00 $249.95
Nic’s Outfit: Practical Gear for Whatever Comes Next
Smith + Rogue Hat
Nic wears a hat just about every day, so he likes one that feels connected to the things he enjoys outside of work.
His Smith + Rogue hat features salmon and pheasant, with a touch of blaze orange. As an avid fisherman and hunter, the design feels right at home in his everyday rotation.
It's a small detail, but it tells you something about him. The farm might take up a lot of his time, but his interests don't stop there. Fishing and hunting are part of who he is, and his hat brings a little of that into his daily wardrobe.
It's also the kind of piece that doesn't need much thought. Grab it on the way out, wear it through the day, and let it become part of the uniform.
Smith + Rogue All Smith Work Tee
Nic's Smith + Rogue All Smith Work Tee has a pretty straightforward job: stay comfortable, breathe well, and hold up through the work.
He talks about wearing it through a morning spent working with different tools and says it kept him cool and comfortable. That's important when the work involves moving around outside and the temperature starts climbing.
Smith + Rogue built the All Smith Work Tee with everyday work in mind. The fabric is designed for breathability and abrasion resistance, with a fit intended to give the wearer room to move without feeling overly boxy.
Nic's take is the one that matters most here. The shirt was comfortable through the morning, and it held up while he worked.
A good work tee doesn't need to make a big statement. It needs to be the shirt you reach for because you know it can get through the day with you.
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Smith + Rogue Men's All Smith Work Tee$0.00 $25.00 -
Smith + Rogue Men's Rogue + Pima Tee$0.00 $19.97 - $29.00
Carhartt Force Ripstop Cargo Work Pants
Nic was a little skeptical when he first picked up his Carhartt Force Ripstop Cargo Work Pants.
They felt fairly lightweight, and he wasn't sure how they'd hold up to the kind of abuse they would see on the farm. After wearing them for quite some time, though, he's changed his mind.
The pants have held up well through the work, and he likes that they're comfortable across different temperatures. They're cool enough when the weather warms up, but he also wore them through the previous winter and stayed fairly warm. He appreciates the slightly higher rise, too.
Carhartt's Force Ripstop Cargo Work Pants are designed to balance durability with mobility and everyday comfort. The ripstop construction helps resist tearing, while Carhartt Force technology is built to wick sweat and dry quickly. Rugged Flex stretch technology and a gusseted crotch help give the wearer room to move, and the cargo and utility pockets provide practical storage for workday essentials.
It's a useful combination for someone whose day can move from one task to another without much warning.
Nic's experience is a good example of why it's worth looking beyond how heavy a pair of work pants feels. Lightweight doesn't automatically mean they're not tough enough. Sometimes the right pair is the one that lets you move comfortably, keeps you cool, and still holds up after months of use.
These have earned their place in Nic's rotation.
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Carhartt Men's Rugged Flex Ripstop Cargo Work Pants$0.00 $64.99 -
Carhartt Rugged Flex Rigby 5-Pocket Work Pants$0.00 $54.99
KEEN Cincinnati 6-Inch Waterproof Work Boots with Carbon Toe
Nic is on his second pair of KEEN work boots, and his first pair is still going strong.
That's the kind of detail you notice when someone has actually lived in their gear. He's worn these boots through water, snow, and ice, and says they've been comfortable and able to take the abuse he puts them through.
The KEEN Cincinnati 6-Inch Waterproof Work Boots are built for demanding work environments. The model features a waterproof, breathable KEEN.DRY membrane, a nonmetallic carbon-fiber safety toe, and a slip-resistant outsole. KEEN's Luftcell cushioning is designed to provide support for long days on your feet, while the boot's construction is built for the demands of heavier work.
The carbon-fiber toe offers protective coverage without the weight of a traditional steel toe, and the waterproof construction is made to keep moisture out while allowing internal moisture to escape.
For Nic, the biggest selling point isn't a spec sheet. It's that the boots have held up through the conditions he's encountered and stayed comfortable along the way.
Water, snow, ice, mud, and long days outside can be hard on footwear. A dependable work boot has to be ready for all of it, and Nic's experience with KEEN is why he's come back for another pair.
What Makes a Good Farm Wardrobe?
Alysha and Nic might have different approaches to getting dressed, but the things they look for are pretty similar.
Comfort matters. Durability matters. And if a piece can do its job without getting in the way, even better.
For Alysha, personal style is part of that equation. She doesn't want to feel like she has to give up the clothes she likes just because she works on a farm. She wants denim that can move with her, tops that feel good in the heat, and boots that are comfortable enough to wear all day. She wants to feel like herself, whether she's working in the garden or taking a night away from the farm.
Nic is more focused on the practical side of things. His clothes need to keep up with the work, and his boots need to handle the conditions he puts them through. If a pair of pants surprises him by being lighter than expected but still holding up, or a pair of boots stays comfortable after months of use, that's worth remembering.
Neither of them is dressing for the sake of the camera. These are pieces they have worn, worked in, and made part of their everyday routines.
That's what makes their outfits interesting. The best workwear isn't just clothing that looks rugged. It's clothing that is rugged, durable, and built to never interfere with you getting the job done.
The Broken Inn
When your work is also something you care deeply about, stepping away isn't always easy. There's always another task, another project, another thing to plan for. But listening to Alysha talk about growing food and feeding people makes it clear why the work is worth it.
Red’s Root Cellar grew from a small interest in self-sufficiency into a business rooted in community. Alysha and Nic have built something together, and their day-to-day lives reflect that: a lot of hard work, a lot of problem-solving, and a shared investment in what comes next.
Their clothes tell a smaller part of that story. Alysha's Sendero hat says something about how she wants to be seen. Her Levi’s 501s are a favorite because they look good and have held up to real work. Her BRUNT boots make getting into the day easier. Nic's Smith + Rogue pieces, Carhartt cargo pants, and KEEN boots are there because they work, plain and simple.
These aren't outfits waiting for a special occasion. They're part of the life happening between the big moments.
Stay a while. Get to know Alysha and Nic Merenz, watch the full episode, and discover the pieces that make their everyday wardrobes work.
Explore workwear, denim, and footwear for your own kind of long day.
In Episode Three of Broken Inn, Sequoia Webb discusses the ins and outs of barrel racing, being a rodeo queen, and a family legacy, all while wearing pieces that are durable and femine, for whatever the day brings
Check in here
In Episode Two of Broken Inn, Maddie Albertson discusses how ranch life doesn't always happen on a schedule, and the pieces that hold up when the weather doesn't.
Corrin Switzer is a fashion photographer, storyteller, and content creator based in Montana. With years of experience creating fashion-focused photography, video, and editorial content, she has built a career around helping brands tell authentic stories through style. As the Footwear and Apparel Media Creator at North 40 Outfitters, Corrin combines her love of fashion, visual storytelling, and the outdoors to create content that connects customers with the products and lifestyles they love. Whether she's writing blogs, producing videos, styling outfits, or photographing the latest arrivals, she's always chasing the next great story and finding creative ways to bring apparel and footwear to life. Her approach blends a sharp eye for style with a genuine appreciation for the hardworking people, places, and products that define the North 40 lifestyle....