Michael Cepress outfits men in classic fall looks with an artful edge

Local tailor Michael Cepress expanded his studio this September to include a boutique that showcases his ready-to-wear line and an area for fitting custom garments. Nestled on a cobblestone side street on Capitol Hill, the clever space, decorated with antique scissors, cameras and luggage, is marked with the "MC" logo Cepress inherited from his grandfather, a watchmaker. The space communicates Cepress' appreciation for classic masculinity and things that are "built to last."

Cepress, who's been a practicing tailor since earning his MFA from the University of Washington in 2006, designs well-fitting, classic men's pieces with an artful edge, such as his double-collared button-down shirts or the long sleeve, scoop-neck shirts he's debuting this fall. "Designs that have enough attention and love that they can be lived with for a while, can have a history of their own," Cepress says.

This month Cepress debuts his new 2010 fall/winter collection, which was inspired by a fashion film he's collaborating on which celebrates an impeccable fit and the role movement plays in a garment. In the film, Cepress' clothing is worn by skateboarders. Cepress plays up gestural lines in his pieces and uses texture and color details throughout garments to catch the eye.

Aiming to help clients "step beyond the predictable," Cepress has fleshed out his ready-to-wear line this year and, for fall, has stocked his boutique with straightforward, wearable basics available at a competitive price point. Expect to find classics such as button-down shirts ($125), trousers ($158), jackets ($299), vests ($119), and a wide selection of eye-catching neckties ($44) and ascots ($38). Cepress will gladly give a tutorial on ascots if it's your first time.

If you're looking for a simple statement piece, Cepress advises that a vest is a great chance to bring in a bit of color; he loves designing the playful, approachable garment that can be dressed up with a suit or dressed down with a skinny jean and a V-neck tee. "The modern guy wants to dress up just enough," Cepress says of the effortless polish a vest can add.

Using handmade textiles is important to Cepress, who prioritizes local and American-made fabrics like the wools in his fall palette of deep blues, browns and reds. Cepress is also incorporating plaids in fresh, understated ways. He's playing with scale changes and using two similarly colored plaids -- one a tight, small plaid and the other, a larger grid -- together on a button-up shirt. Cepress is also having fun designing a kilt in a refined, windowpane plaid pattern traditionally reserved for dress pants or suits.  

If you're interested in a ready-to-wear piece or commissioning a custom garment, visit Cepress at his Capitol Hill showroom or contact him through his Web site. Custom work is priced out by project with two-piece suits starting at $3,000, shirts starting at $295 and trousers at $495.

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