Off the Rack: March Handbag Highlights at T.J. Maxx

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March 10, 2011

Earlier this week I stopped by T.J. Maxx to check out the latest handbag offerings, hoping to find some inspiration for spring. Let me preface this by saying I don't live in a big city where some of the best merchandise seems to land but even at my meager T.J. Maxx, there were amazing gems - you just need to know what to look for! The best brands I spotted on this trip included B. Makowsky, Cynthia Rowley, the Sak, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Lucky Brand, Big Buddha, Jessica Simpson and Dooney & Bourke. Happily, there were quite few good-looking leather bags in colors like tan and white, as well as brights like orange, red and pink. My eyes are always on the lookout for those red clearance tags to get the best deals, and my favorite find happened to have one of those stickers, namely the Sak red leather satchel (shown above) for $52, down from $89.99. If you're looking for a new leather handbag for spring, check T.J. Maxx before you pay full price at a department store.

Click through to see more handbag highlights from my trip.

B. Makowsky brown leather hobo, $69 (compare at $218)

Cynthia Rowley tan snakeskin tote, $79 (compare at $250)

Cynthia Rowley gray snakeskin tote, $79 (compare at $250)

Italian leather fold-over tote, price unknown (it was under $100)

Big Buddha white faux-leather hobo, $39.99 (original tag reads $95)

MICHAEL Michael Kors "Ludlow" leather shoulder tote, $179.99 (original tag reads $348)

Cynthia Rowley leopard tote with leather handles, $99.99 (compare at price unknown)

Lucky Brand leather tote - folded view, $99.99 (compare at $200)

Lucky Brand leather tote - unfolded view, $99.99 (compare at $200)

B. Makowsky magenta leather hobo, $129.99 (compare at $260)

B. Makowsky brown leather tote, $169.99 (compare at $289.99)

Lucky Brand leather satchel, $119 (compare at $200)

Dooney & Bourke zebra-print tote, $179.99 (compare at price unknown)

Photo credit: TheBudgetBabe.com

Comments (19)

Posted in: T.J. Maxx

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Comments

Every time you discuss your local TJ Maxx, I get so jealous! The ones near me don't have any great handbags or shoes. I would love one of those Cynthia Rowley totes.

#1 Joann on 2011-03-10 13:43 (Reply)

I love going to Marshalls and TJ Maxx for bags. I never ever pay full price. No way. They have great deals. Those are really nice too. People look at you weird when you take all these pics? Lol

#2 Snackyjackie on 2011-03-10 14:54 (Reply)

My local TJ Maxx's are so hit or miss. I go in there expecting to find awesome finds and get disappointed. The store is unkempt and super messy. I could forgive the clutter, if I found the jewels that you and Claire Sulmers find at their local bargain basements.

#3 Liah on 2011-03-10 14:55 (Reply)

These pics came just in time. I have to go to my TJ MAXX over the weekend. Hopefully, i will find one of these pretties! Thanks again.

#4 salmeen on 2011-03-10 18:33 (Reply)

So very sad it wasn't ME who saw that B Makowsky bag! I am going to TJ Maxx tomorrow but they never have anything good like that at mine. Or if they do, it's gone before I get there.

#5 Allie on 2011-03-10 19:48 (Reply)

One tip I would suggest is try to limit your next visit to one department, ie. just the shoes or just the handbags. Sometimes I miss things if I try to shop the entire store. I scoured the handbag racks for a good 20 minutes to find these diamonds in the rough! Hope that helps

#5.1 The Budget Babe on 2011-03-11 18:04 (Reply)

I too never find anything at my local TJ and I'm a HUGE The Sak fan. The bag shown above is called the Silverlake Leather Convertible Satchel and it's on thesak.com on sale for $56.70 (No tax to IL, woohoo!). Honestly, their own site truly does a lot of bargains and I was seeing really cute leathers, yes, red leather too... starting in the $20s, with a few leather mini crossbodies for $19.50.

#6 Shelle on 2011-03-10 22:27 (Reply)

Thanks for the tip, I often forget to check the individual brands' sites. Great deals to be found.

#6.1 The Budget Babe on 2011-03-11 17:59 (Reply)

I love the "Compare at price unknown." lol TJ Maxx is amazing. So many cute things at decent prices.

#7 K (Homepage) on 2011-03-11 01:15 (Reply)

I guess it's time for me to visit our local TJ Maxx this weekend! Need a good handbag for spring.

#8 Allison (Homepage) on 2011-03-11 09:31 (Reply)

I just LOVE that Michael Kors bag, but unfortunately, my local TJ Maxx never seems to carry them (or perhaps they just sell out by the time I get there).

#9 Target-Addict (Homepage) on 2011-03-11 09:47 (Reply)

PS - that Big Buddha hobo looks like a replica of another Michael Kors bag - the "Jet Set" style - which retails for $248.

#10 Target-Addict (Homepage) on 2011-03-11 09:50 (Reply)

I saw several of the same bags at my local T.J. Maxx (also in a fairly small town). Unfortunately, they didn't have any of those beautiful Cynthia Rowley bags, but I did walk away with a $145 Tignanello bag for $20 on clearance. Still deciding whether or not to keep it, but where else can you find a leather bag for $20?

#11 Sara (Homepage) on 2011-03-11 12:08 (Reply)

I am so jealous of your TJ Maxx's selection! These are goregous. I used to live in the middle of nowhere upstate NY, where no one cared about brands, and i would find the best steals at Marshalls and TJMaxx. Now I live in the DC area, and these stores are always a mess, already destroyed by the stay at home moms that get their hands on the good brands before me! I need to start hunting more often!

#12 loftyappetite (Homepage) on 2011-03-11 14:40 (Reply)

I've noticed that, too. Try a different neighborhood, I've found merchandise can vary significantly from neighborhood to neighborhood even within the same city

#12.1 The Budget Babe on 2011-03-11 18:02 (Reply)

I just came from TJ Maxx, they had a lot of great bags like the ones you pictured here. I loved all the snake skinned totes that were there!
I am in need of cross body bags; I scored a white Lucky Brand bag on clearance for $39! and a red Nine West bag for just $15.

#13 Kelly on 2011-03-12 17:55 (Reply)

I just saw the Cynthia Rowley leopard tote with brown leather handles at my local TJ Maxx. Do you happen to know if the entire bag is leather? I also saw it on an ebay site that claimed that the entire bag is leather. I love the bag, and would prefer the longevity of leather to pleather. Any insight would be great. Thanks!

#14 Alison on 2011-06-02 21:15 (Reply)

I love TJ Maxx...I lived in the US for 3 years and I miss this store...I wish I could buy some handbags over there...it's a pity they don't have a shop online website...the prices are huge in Europe now...thank you for these pictures...they remember me of my shopping days in this wonderful store.

#15 Diana on 2014-04-23 15:11 (Reply)

They launched ecommerce not too long ago: www.tjmaxx.com

However I'm not sure if they ship internationally...

#16 The Budget Babe on 2014-04-23 20:34 (Reply)

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