It’s Cold And The “M” Coat Becomes Hard to Resist

It’s been a cold week here in Washington and I saw one too many pregnant women bundled into ill-fitting, non-maternity coats these past few days.  You all know this is one of my pet peeves, and despite receiving numerous nasty emails about this issue, no one is going to change my mind on this. It’s an easy-to-remember fashion rule–if you can’t button it, it doesn’t fit.

The sight of so many cold, dissheveled pregnant women prompted me to check out whether there are any warm maternity coats currently still on sale. And I realized that though I’ve never blogged about the clever “M” maternity coat before, it really does provide the perfect option for the pregnant woman who lives in a cold climate, but is holding out on buying a maternity coat because she just can’t justify the purchase for just one winter. Luckily, I just found the “M” coat on sale here in Evymama’s online maternity boutique for CAD $384 (USD $389) and in Hautemama’s maternity boutique here for CAD $346 (USD $350) and at Milkface nursing boutique here for CAD $385 (USD $390). (The coat usually retails for CAD $480).  This coat is designed by Canadian Spirit Dowsnwear, and is the only goose down maternity coat I’ve ever come across.  The “M” coat, which launched on the maternity market in Canada a few years ago, is premised upon an extraordinarily clever and practical concept. The coat is intended for wear at three separate, distinct stages of a new mom’s life: 1)  the pregnant mom-to-be, 2) the new mom toting a newborn around town, and 3) the sleek, postpartum mom who has lost her baby weight and no longer needs a maternity coat. Check out the photos at right for illustration of all three stages.

OK, I admit, the “M” coat does not initally appear to be crucial to a fashion-forward woman’s wardrobe. I don’t tend to usually be a fan of convertible maternity wear and that triangular, zip-in insert isn’t exactly the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen. The faux fur trim is removeable and so is the hood, if the parka look isn’t necessarily for you. But again, this coat is specifically designed to fit a pregnant physique and to keep that physique warm. And I do really like the ability to take the triangular insert and use it to bundle up your newborn, rather than having to use a separate snowsuit for the baby. Soon-to-be new moms–just wait until you have to take that snowsuit on and off your little one a few times each day and you’ll be ordering yourself an “M” coat pronto.

The ability to reach for this coat even after you are done with your baby making and baby carrying is also important–some days, it is just so cold, you might not care what you are wearing as long as it is warm. And that beautiful shearling coat you can’t wait to fit back into once you’ve shed all your pregnancy weight? Take it from me when I tell you that toddlers and shearlings do not mix very well. The boys seem to enjoy rubbing their gooey faces and chins all over me in the cold weather and I have dried little boy boogers all over my prized Searle shearling this winter. I know, absolutely disgusting.

The M coat is available in 8 different colors, so make sure to check out all of the sites I’ve linked to above for your ideal color/size combination.