Last season, we covered high end outerwear manufacturer Nau in our lineup of budding brands. Nau’s slightly formalized, but still technically competent outerwear represents a new class of clothing that both looks great in town and actually performs well out on the hill. We also love their commitment to use environmentally friendly materials.

Not one to be left behind, Arc’Teryx has launched a similar line of ultra high end outerwear (yes, higher end than their already pricey $450 shells.) The Veilance collection combines technical fabrics like GoreTex, Windstopper and Paclite with more traditional cuts and styling. The result? Some sharp looking pieces like the blazer featured at left below. Too bad it goes for $800.

This isn’t an entirely new idea; but Nau and Arc’Teryx are running with it. Higher end technical shells from brands like Patagonia and Arc’Teryx have always had some crossover appeal to more urban atmospheres where some of us work to pay for our days in the mountains (and some people just like the street cred they get from a $400 technical shell.)

UPDATE: LL Bean jumping on the bandwagon

It’s been widely reported that the iconic outdoor brand LL Bean will be launching a new, premium line of apparel & outerwear in March of 2010. LL Bean Signature will be a meeting of the classic New England styling that LL Bean has been known for with more modern, slightly more “upscale” pieces.