File this under “Things That Really Shouldn’t Surprise Anyone, Ever.”

According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Renee Richardson Gosline (yeah, that’s right, MIT is interested in your handbag), consumers are far more likely to identify a counterfeit bag as real when worn by someone that “looks” rich and a real bag as counterfeit when worn by someone that “looks” poor.

Proenza Schouler has opened up its online gates to include e-shopping. With the start of this, they have also released exclusive items you can buy through the online shop. Right now the number of exclusives are small and include a leather wallet, key chain, and novelty bag. Our pick goes to the wallets, which cost $165 each. The wallets have a leather flap front with a snap closure and are available in 6 rich colors.

Something is rotten in the state of Louisiana.

As we all know by now, the luxury market was hit hard by last year’s economic collapse. Despite what some snide fashion-haters would tell you, the industry in fact does affect people at every level of the economy, and Louisiana’s alligator farmers are just the most recent people to feel the pressure as a result of tough economic conditions in the fashion industry, according to The New York Times.

Can’t make this stuff up, folks.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, Dooney & Bourke chairman and co-founder Frederic Bourke has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Travel Act by bribing Azerbaijani oil officials.

Who knew that being rich from selling mid-range handbags could eventually get you in so much trouble with your money?

More accurately, trouble has been brewing for quite some time now.

We make light of Versace‘s relatively piddling bag efforts on a regular basis (or whenever I can’t think of something more interesting to write about), but based on Dana Thomas’s very interesting article on the company’s troubles for the latest Newsweek, bad bags aren’t the only problems that Donatella & Co.

We are a day late reporting the news, but we are reporting nonetheless. Taylor Jacobson, who worked for Rachel Zoe, is no longer with Rachel Zoe Inc as of yesterday. The news is conflicting whether Taylor was fired or quit. If you followed the Rachel Zoe Project (one of my many guilty pleasures), Taylor Jacobson continued to express her disdain for her job and where her job was going.

Everyone at Luna Boston loves a good party, and a couple weeks ago was no exception. The Diane von Furstenberg event was one of the biggest we’ve ever had – there was a line around the block to get in before the doors even opened! Amanda and Jennifer started setting up for the event at 9am and didn’t stop until 10 minutes before the event started, when they finally had time to get ready!

I’ve got some good news, kids: we just might make it after all.

Making an even better case that luxury brands need to step up their online game, online sales for July 2009 were up almost 16% from the previous month, and 17% from July 2008, which was before the year’s economic collapse took place. The fastest growing sector? Clothing, shoes and accessories.

I must admit, this came as quite a shock tonight. As I was sitting at home watching one of the best movies ever, Kindergarten Cop, and browsing the Purse Forum, I stumbled upon a story that I could not believe.

Perez Hilton, notorious trashy celebrity blogger, will be launching a sister site tomorrow named CocoPerez which will be a fashion focused site.

The Internet and luxury have always been sort of mutually exclusive. The Internet is broad, democratic, and welcomes all kinds; it has changed the way that consumers interact with corporations in fundamental ways that are constantly evolving. Luxury brands are narrow, elitist, and target a very specific clientele. They require a bit of mystery and aloofness in order to be aspirational and make their traditional brand identities work, and they’re generally not interested in changing how their companies interact with…well, anyone.