SHOPPING: Fall gives birth to fun, decadent handbag picks

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Having never been a fan of cold weather, I find one of the best things about the approach of fall and winter is not so much the dropping temperatures as the fabulous accessories that come with these particular seasons.

Spring and summer may bring candy colors (or a fascination with white every four years or so), fun jewelry and the occasional sun-hat, but the truly decadent materials and accessories don't make their way to store shelves until fall begins its approach.

While searching for the perfect new handbag for myself, a certain amount of curiosity got to me and I decided to check out a couple of discount stores in the area. Though Burlington Coat Factory and Kohl's didn't offer much more than the usual lower-end bags with an occasional item from Nine West or Candie's, the selection at TJ Maxx was a huge and pleasant surprise.

Not only does TJ Maxx carry a large variety of bags, it stocks a good deal of higher end products and has much friendlier prices than department stores.

Many of the bags still carry their original retail tags, complete with original prices. The difference can be astounding, though the drawback is that TJ Maxx has a constantly changing inventory, so there's never a guarantee the retailer will have a specific bag or that a specific bag will be there for long.

And the bags aren't separated by price or style, but the good finds make the digging worthwhile. One of the first I came across was an oversized black leather tote with pink trim ($144) and canvas floral bags with leather trim in several colors and styles ($58-$72) by Rafe.

Because small bags are fun, I was pleased to find a square miniature green leather bag ($49.99) and a small square salmon bag ($59.99), by Cole Haan. I also spotted a mall yellow leather bag with buckle details by United Colors of Benetton ($34.99). Also in line with current trends, I found several bags with fur trim and accents, including a suede leather patchwork hobo bag with fur accents ($69.99) by Benetton.

TJ Maxx's selection doesn't forget those who like a classic. I found a light brown Coach bag with a buckle and two front pockets ($179.99) -- a style still being sold at department store Coach counters at full price -- and another shopper told me she had recently picked up at a great price one of the miniature messenger bags Coach came out with over the summer.

A couple of other classics included a cream canvas bag with blue leather crocodile trim by Ralph Lauren ($40) and oversized bowling-style bags by BCBG Max Azria in black, brown and burnt orange ($159.99). There was also an oversized forest green leather bag by Cynthia Rowley ($99.99) and a mid-sized rose pink one-strap bag with buckle details by Rafe ($94).

Other brands at TJ Maxx included Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Anne Klein, Sigrid Olson and Charles David. The Web site is at www.tjmaxx.com, but if you have the time and patience, a visit to the store is probably the best bet for turning up a great buy.

Maria Phelan is a reporter for the Green Valley and Henderson Views. Retail information appropriate for mention can be sent to mphelan@viewnews.com.