VINTAGE shoppers and second-hand enthusiasts found themselves in shopping heaven when Colchester's popular Pre-loved Vintage Kilo Sale returned to the city. 

Intrigued by what hidden gems I, too, could get my hands on, I headed to the Charter Hall event on Sunday on the hunt for some unique pieces. 

The sale, which gives shoppers the chance to purchase a kilo of clothes for just £20, started at 10am sharp, when the doors were opened for those who had been eagerly waiting outside the venue.

Gazette:

Free tickets for the event sold out shortly after their release, but entrance to the event only cost the small fee of £1.50 in advance or £2 on the door, which seemed more than reasonable.

Once I had my ticket scanned, I was handed a clear plastic bag and started browsing through the clothes racks. 

Next to the door stood a scale, where you could check the weight of your items so you knew how much you might end up spending, should you exceed the 1kg for £20 limit.

Larger items, such as coats and bags, also had a set price and were not included in the offer.

Gazette:

From jeans and jean jackets to coats, shirts and jumpers, the sale had plenty of choices and it soon became pretty clear who the experts among us were, as some shoppers determinedly hunted for bargains while others just browsed for fun. 

What appeared to prove the most popular choices came from the casual streetwear range, which attracted the majority of the guests as they searched for their new favourite piece. 

Elsewhere in the hall there was also a stand offering accessories such as sunglasses, broaches, earrings, necklaces and rings. 

Gazette:

Further to the back of the hall were multiple tables with shoes and leather bags in all sizes, each looking for a new home. 

Guests who were looking for more fancy pieces, meanwhile, were able to spend time searching through the well-stockced camouflage and faux fur racks.

The experience was made particularly seamless thanks to two changing rooms and several mirrors dotted around the venue, which enabled shoppers to ensure their new items looked good and felt good.

Gazette:

The one and only downsize to the event was the fact items were not organised by size, which made it a little harder to make your way through the pieces. 

Organisers of the Pre-loved Vintage Kilo Sale did, however, make there was always a steady supply of pieces once the racks started to become empty, giving those who showed up later another chance at finding something special to take home. 

Once I had found what I was looking for - nine comfy scars for the upcoming winter season - I headed with my bag to the table with the tills. 

Gazette: Purchase - I bought nine scarves for just £16 Purchase - I bought nine scarves for just £16 (Image: Public)

Gazette:

The weight of the items in the bag was measured and the price of just £16 was calculated. Conveniently, I was able to pay contactless.

The pre-loved kilo sale is definitely worth a visit if you are looking for vintage items with a smaller budget, especially if you book early and manage to bag a free ticket.