I got a maternity trench coat at the local thrift store for $2. Obviously, as a maternity coat, it had ALOT of extra fabric 'round the middle. The hardest part was removing that excess, but the rest was pretty simple. I shortened the bottom hem, and the sleeves, added a handmade brooch, and generally spiffed it up.
Unfortunately, the end result is not like a envisioned in my head, and when that happens my projects go in the bin or right back to the thrift store. Hopefully someone else can buy it for $2 and enjoy it.