Hellobee

Last year, right around this time, I was trying to make a decision. It was just starting to get chilly and I was growing out of everything non maternity in a hurry. The last time that I was this pregnant, it was the middle of summer and while I relished the fact that I was no longer sweating half to death, I did have to spend some money to try to keep my bump warm.

I started doing some investigating online about maternity coats and realized the first frustrating thing about purchasing one – they do not come cheap. Sadly, there isn’t really much you can do about it if you live in a cold climate like me. You have to have something and you can either borrow your husband’s parka or hope and pray for a good sale. I also realized the second frustrating thing about maternity coats – when and where I was looking there were not many options. There was the basic empire waist dress coat and there was the casual puffer style. I wanted something in between – a puffer with a little bit of style thrown in, that would be okay to wear to work but would still be okay to to play outside in the snow with my kids. I also really wanted something that I could wear after the baby arrived that didn’t scream maternity.

It was then that I stumbled across the M coat. I had seen this coat mentioned a few times here on Hellobee but had never looked into it much before. I quickly realized however that this was the coat that I was looking for. The M coat is  a convertible coat that uses a zip in A shaped panel that allows you to wear it as a maternity coat, then a baby wearing coat and then a regular coat when you are ready. For those of you that live in a warmer climate there is also the M shell and the M vest  that offer the same convertible options.

Now that I have had my coat for over a year, I decided it was time to share how it worked for me and hopefully if you are looking for a coat come this winter season, this review might come in handy. Please note that this review is completely my own opinion; I purchased this coat with my own money and am not in any way affiliated with the company.

As a Maternity Coat

30 weeks along  and the day  I delivered

I started wearing this coat at around 3o weekspregnant and wore it right up until delivery. Actually I wore it home from the hospital in maternity form after my c section so technically I wore it a little longer. I loved that fact that is had lots of room to grow, but it also was streamlined to my body so I did not look like I was wearing a tent. I also chose to tie the waist strap over my belly to give it a little more shape.

As a Baby Wearing Coat

Out for a walk in the snow with Lil’ Tea Pot enjoying a cozy nap

The babywearing option was the biggest selling factor of this coat for me. I knew that I wanted to baby wear and having a baby born in the middle of winter, I knew that keeping the baby outside of my coat in a carrier would not be ideal. The M coat worked like a charm- Lil’ Tea Pot loved being all warm and cozy tucked inside.  It was also so much easier keeping him in a fleece sleeper and then adding a hat than dealing with a head to toe snow suit. I will say I think the panel flipped around is not that attractive, but I can ignore that because of its comfortable fit and convenience. My one concern was that I would not be able to wear Lil’ Tea Pot in the coat for a second winter, but I am happy to report that at 10 months old and over 30 lbs, he still fits just fine and loves it!

As a Regular Coat

I wore my M coat in one way shape or form every day last winter and I still love it as much as when it first arrived. I also get way more compliments on this coat than on any other coat I have ever worn. It is worth noting that-  in my opinion – these coat do run quite small. I would suggest at least going up one size from what you normally wear. I normally wear a large or an x-large in outerwear and ended up with a 2XL. For ladies who have long arms and a long torso like me, this coat is the perfect fit for me and I love its streamlined look when the panel is removed.

General Thoughts on the M Coat  

As mentioned above, this coat is quite expensive. However for the quality and the longevity of it, I think it is a worthwhile investment. Also make sure to check online resell sites as they do come up on there fairly often from what I have seen.

• I love all the pockets and compartments on this coat, however I do not love the front pockets that only open from the top. They are for storage only and for a person who likes to walk with hands in her pockets this is not ideal.
• Although this coat is a puffer style, it is not strictly a casual coat. The material has a sheen to it that dresses it up a little and the removable fur trim on the hood adds a little extra something. It does come in a great variety of colours as well.

Happy shopping!