The end of communism didn't improve life very much for the average Russian woman.
Their homes are still overcrowded, they continue to have to queue for food and the sales of vodka among the male population have gone through the roof. But there is now a wealthy elite of ladies who lunch, shop at Gucci's Moscow store and spend any spare time in the newly opened Planyetta Fitness, the city's first 24 hour gym. Irris Makler joined up to exercise with Moscow's new rich.
