I was recently in a store where a woman was trying on a dress that was on sale, 30 per cent off, so it was a good deal. But the dress was too big. A lot of women would've walked away from this dress, and certainly the sales assistant encouraged her to, but this shopper stuck to her guns - she was going to take the dress because being a sewer she could alter it.
A woman recently told me that she bought a $1500 designer dress for $150. The dress was far too big but everything else was fabulous. She bought the dress and took it to her tailor, having worked out that even if she spent $80 to $100 having it altered, all round it was still a bargain - and she would have an amazing dress to wear.
I bought a skirt that was four sizes too big but because the styling was layered I could get away with simply folding the skirt over at the side seam and securing it with a brooch. It looked fantastic.
I've bought dresses that are a bit big and baggy, but have either taken them in at the side seams or folded them over and secured them with a designer button.
So scour those sale racks with a different mindset. Think about another size with the view to modifying it. But make sure the garment is right for you in every other way.