Pavo Pavo Taj

So. I lied. Remember that thing I said about taking a break from reviewing Pavo wraps? Let's just act like that never happened. I can't stop, it's like an addiction, closely rivaling my addiction to chewy, sugary candies...

Pavo's Pavo Taj (not a mistake, the wrap is actually called Pavo, and the colourway is Taj) is my newest love. I'll be honest though, I got this wrap in a trade and really only started reaching for it for the sake of this blog. I figured, I'll use the natty wrap a few times, get a good idea of the wrapping qualities, write the post and then we'll call it a day. I have even had the wrap up for sale already, although the listing has been pulled now.

I think Taj came into my wrapping life at just the right time. Summer is upon us here in Montreal and there is nothing better than grabbing a wrap that goes with any outfit (trust me, it is hard to match wraps to ikat print dresses) and knowing that you'll look fresh, be comfortable, not too hot, yet supported for whatever the day brings.

Taj reminds me a lot of the Gothams. There is a definite texture similarity, although Taj is a little more subtle. I get lost in the pattern, much more than I ever did with Marble. I often find myself with this wrap on my lap in the car and I like to trace the pattern and just stare at it. I sound completely insane, but if you're reading this blog chances are you're crazy, too. The stretch is amazing, drawing back to the similarities of the Gothams. It has a lot of bounce, in hand and when wrapped. I find this adds to the comfort of wearing, since it doesn't feel like the wrap is moving against me. The only drawback with wraps like this, I find they need to be readjusted after a while due to the bounce starting to cause a bit of sag. I don't mean within minutes, but for longer carries, like 30 minutes + you might need to stop, untie, tighten and re-tie. No big deal, but something to mention.

Other big pluses for this wrap include the awesome grip. I love how I can tie in the tippy tails and it holds like duct tape. Really, this wrap has many of my favorite features: airy weave, medium weight, some texture, good grip, and nice stretch that translates when wearing as well as wrapping.

Drawbacks to this wrap would be: many people are not crazy about the design (cough vaginas? cough) but on Taj I just don't see it. Natty wraps tend to scare a lot of people off, I happen to think it works well on this wrap, especially for summer, though I do have plans for a transformation in the next few weeks. I would probably recommend this to someone who has tried Pavo before, I feel like this isn't a shiny, bright new thing, but rather something a more experienced wrapper could appreciate. It's on the drier side, so for someone who likes smooth, silky wraps, this might not be the best. I almost want to say it's a middle of the road, something for everyone Pavo wrap, but that makes it seem less special than it really is.

Pavo Pavo Taj
Size 4
100% cotton

Pavo Cobalt Cheetah

They may both be Pavo Menagerie wraps, but Cobalt Cheetah and Jade Giraffe could not be any different if they tried. I was really surprised, and amazed by the differences in these two wraps.

Let's dive right in, shall we?
First off- the creamy texture of Giraffe was nowhere to be found on Cheetah- and this was very exciting to me because that's one of the things I really didn't love about J.G (Jade Giraffe). Cheetah has a much drier feel. I think this is due to the design. I don't know if I'm describing this accurately AT ALL, but the managerie wraps have a lot of flat thread in the weave- so the white warp is very visible (this is also why these wraps tend to have more skipped threads I think, although I saw none on either of the wraps I tried). J.G has a lot more white in the giraffe spots, so it feels a lot silkier and smoother, hence the creamy texture. C.C (Cobalt Cheetah) has a much different design, so feels completely different in hand. I'm not sure how well I'm expressing myself, but it truly makes sense to me!

Weight-wise Cobalt is dense, with a medium-thick feel. It has a nice amount of stretch, minimal for a Pavo, but more than most other wraps. I didn't find it to be an elastic type of stetch, like a Gotham has- the "boing-y" type of stretch that bounces back on you, but it was more like a stretch that also has a bit of give. I found it very supportive, and even though the photos in this post were all taken on the same day, I wore this wrap out a bunch of times in many different carries and I really enjoyed it. I found it easy to wrap with. The weave didn't hinder the wrapping process- it was very easy to slide passes over, although if I didn't keep my wrapping tight as I went along it would get loose very easily. I didn't find this wrap very forgiving for a quick sloppy up, in fact, it would definitely not be my quick-up choice in wrap.

I would choose cobalt to go with my awesome outfit, for a walk through my neighborhood to get a coffee and hit up a shop or two. I'd wear this wrap for casual outings, when I would have a safe spot to wrap (ie: not on the side of the road, but rather in a house with a mirror) and probably not for insanely long periods. This is a size 3, and I generally don't use shorties when I know I have a full day of carrying ahead of me.

I'd recommend this wrap to anyone from newer to experienced wrapper, but not the total newbie. It might be a bit much for them. It would suit someone wrapping an older baby- 4 months plus would be my rec, only because I don't feel it would be soft and snuggly enough for a newborn and there are so many other great squish wraps out there. A toddler, on the other hand, would be happy in this wrap. A nice bright blue colour that you don't really see from any other wrap company, along with a very cool cheetah *cough leopard cough* pattern makes this a total hit. Again, I have to say the menagerie are not my favorite line from Pavo. I LOVE that company and the wraps they make, but I think I should stick with the Form line- they almost always blow me away!

On that note, I've got to take a bit of a break from reviewing Pavos. I've noticed they've started taking up over half of my reviews (which makes sense, because my stash is about 90% Pavos) but for the sake of the blog, I am going to try branching out! Stay tuned!

Pavo Cobalt Cheetah
Size 3
100% Cotton

Pavo Jade Giraffe

Jade Giraffe is the first Guild and first menagerie Pavo wrap that I tried. It was a stalking score and I'll be honest, I bought a 2 because it was the cheapest way to try a Guild. Turns out, I kinda like size 2 wraps, but I'm not sure how well the wrapping qualities of Giraffe mix with a shorty.

Aesthetically, this wrap is gorgeous. The large giraffe spots literally SHINE, it's like nothing I've ever seen on a wrap before. So so beautiful. The jade colour is also amazing- it is somehow subdued, yet funky, and sophisticated all at the same time. I really feel that this is my "Holt Renfrew" wrap. (Google it, you non-Canadians) It's luxurious and my fanciest wrap, looks-wise.

I find this wrap to be thick and very dense. I would describe it as creamy, with a surprising amount of grip despite the lack of texture. I had some trouble getting the passes to glide, depending on what I was wearing. Somehow the weave doesn't work well against certain fabrics (like fleece, for example. Which should have been obvious, since a wrap like this would never be seen with fleece. I mean really, what was I thinking??!). Tying off was easy with this wrap, it makes a decent sized knot, I'd say mid-sized, and it is easy to tighten. It isn't the grippiest knot though, so I preferred wearing it in carries where I wasn't relying on the knot at my shoulder or chest to keep the carry tight. Shepard's carry, and Double hammock rebozo were not the best. But a ruck tied in front, which I could just eek out in this 2.95m size 2, was great.

What I did really like about this wrap was its supportiveness. It's solid, dependable, and isn't just a pretty face. A great single pass wrap that doesn't sag or start to lose support.

A few things I didn't love: The stretch that is obvious in hand doesn't translate when wrapping. It really felt like wrapping with a thick silky scarf or pashmina. I think this wrap would be much better in a longer size for me. I prefer something with more bounce and stretch in a shorty. It is a mix of too dense and thick- if a wrap is thick I prefer it to be a bit airier and vice versa.

I know there are a lot of fans of the menagerie line of Pavo, so I know this wrap must be a hit for many people. I wouldn't recommend it for a newer wrapper, but I would definitely recommend it to someone wrapping a toddler or older child, to someone who likes a dense, creamy texture and to someone who wants a little haute couture mixed into their babycarrying.

Thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with my review of Jade Giraffe?

Pavo Jade Giraffe
100% cotton
Ivory/Green/Aquamarine
Size 2