I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. There, on the end of a rack of purses at T. J. Maxx, hung a treasure trove of really expensive bags for way-below-retail prices.

Could this be true?

T.J. Maxx and its corporate sister, Marshalls, can always be counted on for perfectly respectable brands like Nine West and Tommy Hilfiger. And at the discount store prices, you can pick up a couple of bags each season without resigning yourself to a week of PB & J sandwiches.   

But brands like Michael Kors (see right), BCBG and Adrienne Vittadini? I hadn't noticed those before.

First, I spotted a Cole Haan zip hobo in rust that would go with pretty much anything. Suggested retail: $295. T.J. Maxx price: $149.99.

A safari-inspired Cole Haan triangle tote (see left) in a geometic chocolate and ivory print was selling for $189.99 instead of the $350 retail price. (Turns out, it is marked down to $179.95 on the Cole Haan Web site.)

A roomy vintage leather Claudio Ferrici bag big enough to fit a laptop was going for $299.99...down from the $520 suggested retail price. Now, my skimpy budget won't allow for spending $520 on a computer case, but I'm jealous of anyone this bit of info benefits.

I wondered if my neighborhood T.J. Maxx was the only one with these extra-good goodies. Sonya Cosentini, a spokesman for the company, gave me the skinny.

She said every T.J. Maxx offers brand name and designer handbags at 20 to 60 percent off regular prices. She wouldn't reveal the extent of those designer options, citing the company's policy of not advertising specific brands in order to keep prices low. This Deal Diva couldn't quibble with that.

Finding them, however, seems like a bit of a crapshoot.

"We get 10,000 new pieces of merchandise every week in every store," she said. "It really depends on when you go."

Is that code for, "You must go often?" 'Cuz for these pretties, plenty of fashionistas will be down with that.

~ Deal Diva Colleen

(Photos: Michael Kors and Cole Haan Web sites)