TJ Maxx Adventures: A Plethora of Fall Fashion for NYFW and Beyond

Pictured: My fabuless Elizabeth Arden Anniversary Creams from TJ Maxx.

Before the BlogHer11 conference, TJ Maxx called and asked if I would come in and do a little fall shopping with them.  Mm.. tough one right? Had to think about it, to shop or not to shop, that is the question? In The Recessionista Regime, the staff will always choose shopping, provided it’s savvy.  And of course being a Maxxinista shows considerable sales savvy.  And with Fashion Week coming up, a trip to TJ Maxx seems a complete necessity, to stock up not just on fashion, but also techie stuff (yes, they have it) and travel size cosmetics (like my Arden creams pictured above.)

I believe that social media and blogs are especially important to stores like TJ Maxx and their sister store, Marshalls.  That’s because they don’t do glossy print ads in fashion magazines to tell you what’s new in store.  That is how they keep costs low and run the stores with a lower marketing budget than most retailers.  Also, there are no fixed quantities of designer lines coming in all the time. With TJ Maxx and Marshalls, new stuff trickles in weekly, but it’s not predictable what the stores with receive. You really do have to go to the store and dig through the goods to find the deals.  The best way to find out when things are coming in, and what they might be, is to ask the store manager, or check social networking sites like yours truly or Maxx finds to get the 411.  So here’s what I found at TJ Maxx on my recent excursion; Tory Burch handbags, Juicy Couture jewelry,  clothing from Max Studio, Cynthia Rowley, Evan Piccone,  Free People, DKNY,  Chinese Laundry, Stuart Weitzman, and Adrienne Vittadini.   They also have plenty of Willi Smith, which is now regularly sold at all TJ Maxx stores.

Pictured: Coveted Tommy Hilfiger handbags at reduced prices (photo: M. Hall)

To me the key thing about TJ Maxx is quality.  There are many goods from luxury retailers and top of the line cosmetic firms. Spending $30.00 at TJ Maxx is very different than say, spending $30.00 at a discounter like Forever21 or Target.  With TJ Maxx, your $30.00 will deliver a garment of higher quality, better fabric and a better overall fit.  Value for price is the what the stores deliver, the trade off is that you have to be willing to go on the hunt, and spend time in the stores carefully going through all the racks.  But for those of us who delight in finding a bargain, the chase or hunt is part of the shopping experience. Here’s what my hunt yielded a long sleeved black maxi dress (price $29.99), perfect for fall events, or event New York Fashion Week, a Targus laptop cooling chill mat for $19.99 (every blogger needs one), Elizabeth Arden cosmetics, a Danksin “core ball” for  $12.99,  JET Foot Treatment Socks for $ 6.99 (every blogger also needs these for  New York Fashion Week/NYFW and FNO), assorted Tzao teas for travel,  Starbucks Coffee (huge bag for $16.99 also needed for NYFW) and finally shoe organizers for under my bed for $7.99.   Overall a very good collection of fashionable supplies.

Pictured: Look for these Spa at Home or for Travel foot treatment socks. (photo: M.Hall)

Pictured: Cynthia Rowley Silk Top in popular purple for Fall. (photo: M. Hall)

Other finds that I uncovered at TJ Maxx, iPad cases, cell phone sanitizers (a pure impluse buy item),  many iPhone/iPod accessories from cases to clock radios.   Here’s a look at one of the gorgeous iPad cases.  This is another perfect NYFW  or work accessory for carrying your iPad.

Pictured: A brilliant iPad case in Hermes Orange, prices at $30.00 (photo: M.Hall)

As you can see, there are plenty of terrific items at TJ Maxx.  There’s something for everyone, whether it’s your kids, your husband or yourself.  If fashion is what you quest for, look for the purple tags.  Purple tags denote an elite designer item, and you’ll see a lot of these tags at stores that have the new runway section.  If you’re looking for gadgets and techie stuff, scan the items at the front of the store, and near the cash register.  And don’t forget the gourmet food aisles, they have terrific sauces from Smith & Wollensky and jams from Sarabeth.   There’s so much that I’ll have to write another post on the Fall Fashion trends at TJ Maxx.