(Source: http://www.ogirk.ru/news/2014-01-28/38685.html)

Russia's first fashion museum opens in Taltzy architectural and ethnographic reserve near Irkutsk. On February 23, the opening exhibition "No Men Allowed" will introduce to the visitors a collection of lingerie of different epochs, Taltzy director Vladimir Tikhonov informed reporters.

Taltzy's collection has more than two thousand pieces of clothing and accessories with oldest items dated from the Early Empire era. The most fully represented dresses are the ones from the period of bustles (1870-80) – special frameworks, applied at ladies's backs under the dress, below the waist to make the figure look splendor. These so-called "shrimp tails" and chapeau-сhutes (wide-brimmed bonnet-like hats) were extremely popular in the Siberian province.

"Not only nobles, but also merchants, substantially represented in Irkutsk, were ordering dresses from Paris. Ladies were aware of all the latest fashion trends," the museum restorer, Maria Tikhonova said. According to her, oriental influence on the costumes of 19-century Irkutsk women revealed itself only in the use of Chinese fabrics.

Organizers of the museum did not intend to limit collection to the high-society suits and have collected a solid exposition of male and female peasant clothes. Many of the exhibits got in Taltzy from the locals, some of them were bought at flea markets and antique auctions. In Russia, there is no any fashion museum that would have a permanent location, yet.

The rich collection was assembled by fashion historian Alexander Vasilyev. It is being exhibited at various venues of the capital.

Taltzy architectural and ethnographic museum is a unique collection of historical and architectural monuments of the peoples of Eastern Siberia, one of the largest open-air museums in Russia. It was founded in 1966 and has more than 40 historical and architectural monuments.

Taltzy  is a unique collection of historical, architectural and ethnographical objects dated to the 17th – 20th centuries. Located on the right bank of the Angara River (kilometer 47 of the Baikal motorway), it houses 78 historical objects of defensive, cult and civil art building typical of the nationalities populating Irkutsk Oblast: the Russians, the buryats, the Evenks and the tofalars. The decision to found the Museum was made in 1966. In 1980, it received its first visitors. In 1995, the Museum became the historical and cultural heritage object of federal importance. The Museum assets number 17000 units. 140000 people visit it every year. Now, there is a tradition to arrange public holidays and festivals such as Christmas, Shrovetide, Easter, and Whit Sunday at the Museum. There are also many interesting workshops. The craftsmen give lessons in weaving, braiding, fictility, jewelry and some other handicrafts. Usually, the craftsmen sell their masterpieces.