Even though average wages in Russia are low, Moscow is home to some of the most exclusive and expensive shops in the world. The Russian capital's retail scene is booming with people spending millions of dollars.

With the majority of the country's wealth running through the capital, there is no shortage of people ready to shop till they drop. Thousands of people hit the city's malls and boutiques every day, and following the latest fashion trends doesn't come cheap.

The average Russian only earns around $US 300 a month, which means that for most people, shopping is only an occasional treat.  For others, however, it is almost an obsession.

Polina Mankevich is a self-confessed shopaholic, who owns more than 20 pairs of shoes, numerous t-shirts and bags. But that doesn't stop her heading out to add to her collection at least once a week, which puts a serious strain on her finances

'It can be expensive, although I try to spend within my budget. But if I really like something, I can spend more than I was planning to.  For now, it's just a hobby, but I think it could become a problem especially where shoes are concerned,' she says.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, representatives of the fashion industry say that being a shopaholic is nothing to worry about.

'It is necessary to go shopping because it is such a pleasure. Going shopping helps people to be up on the latest trends, to feel modern, and to know what is going on in fashion,' Irina Chernyak, Cosmopolitan magazine Editor, states.

However, other analysts say shopaholics are using retail therapy to block out bigger problems.

Yuniy Davidov, Director General of R and I Group, believes, 'it is a serious disease which broke out around five years ago. It's a disease of mass destruction'.

'Shopaholism is born from emptiness. We have a new category of people – middle managers – who stay in the office from 10 am to 6 pm, doing a dull mechanical job. And away from the office, people begin to feel a certain mental vacuum like a worm living inside them. So, you feed this worm with money, but the next day it starts gnawing at you again,' he states.

Still, some shopaholics are very comfortable with their habit, continuing to indulge their passion for fashion.  And high prices do not put them off.