When it comes to fashion, there's one thing certain about it's progress in the 21st century...It's been totally dependent on the past 40 years of the 20th Century for inspiration. Baby Doll dresses of the late 60s. Flowing peasant dresses of early 70s. Wrap dresses of the mid-70s. Low waisted jeans of the late 60s. Halter tops of the 50s/60s/70s. Now, recently, designers are showing the high waisted, wide legged slacks of the disco 70s. Another recent hot trend is the use of 'hot' colors...oranges, brilliant turquoise, magentas....hello? So, 1980s!

And with accessories, fashionistas have been looking to the past as well. The popularity of headbands, long-scarf as headband, peasant-style wooden-bead necklaces, gladiator sandals, any shoe with a platform sole or a wedge-heel ... all owe their current popularity to fashion moments that originated decades ago.

When it comes to sunglasses style, where would most fashionistas be if it hadn't been for the trend setters of the 1960s and 1970s...Audrey Hepburn, Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis, Bianca Jagger, Cher? And their designers, Halston, Givenchy, Oleg Cassini, Oscar de la Renta?

When summer weather starts to heat up, summer attire can get a bit more extreme; let's face it ... strolling down a sidewalk in a bikini top and "daisy duke" cut-offs is more extreme than black tights and a heavy winter coat ! When the days get long, and the temperatures climb, women of all ages want something lighter, frivolous, summer-y!

That's where white sunglasses come in. This fashion accessory is definitely about hot fun in the summertime. As fun as rhinestone flip-flops, as short-lived as a cotton-candy pink patent leather summer purse ... but nonetheless rooted in summer styles for decades. Here's a peek at some fashion-forward women and their white shades.

Do the young women of today know where their fashion inspirations originated? Or does it even matter? But here are two of the most stylish women the 'silver screen' ever captured, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn...both in white frames. Hepburn's 1967 frames are so huge that they completely seem like the wrap-around sunglasses of recent years!

Surely those who design today's accessories are pouring over decades-old fashion photos and pattern books for their "brand new" ideas. Is it any wonder that vintage clothing is so popular...the older the item, the more it looks just like today's current styles!

Check out the photo below of contemporary actress, Drew Barrymore. Note how similar her shades are to those on Grace Kelly...amazing! Truly a sign, as the song lyrics say, that 'everything old is new again.'

And Princess Diana...a fashion icon if there ever was one! In white sunglasses! The year was 1989, just shy of 20 years ago. When this photo taken, Diana was 28 years old...competely young enough to want to add some spunk to the classic pearl jewelry.

You'd have to be living in a cave to not know that tons of media coverage is given to two particular young women ... they're not celebrities really, not business genius', they're not artistically oriented, not like a critically acclaimed novelist, artist, sculpture, dancer, they're not philanthropists, or breaking through scientific advances, they've won no awards for teacher-of-the-year, for any athletic ability, for any good samaritan/local hero behavior. Yet, for all the things that they are NOT, they get lots of media coverage. They are, of course, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie. Why have I gone on and on about these two? Well, they are evidently, from current photos, both into the white sunglasses trend...and so many would assume their photos would be here. But, uhmmm, no.

I will however, include yet another contemporary well-known fashion icon. Kate Moss ... who, by the accounts of dozens of fashion critics and editors, is brilliant at just seemingly throwing on any ol' thing and looking 'mahvelous.' So, not to be too antiquated in my photo inclusions. Kate Moss included here.

If you're wanting an update for your fashion scene this summer, choosing white sunglasses is a really inexpensive and completely current accessory. Let's face it, not that many women, regardless of age, have the courage or the slender figure to bare-all in bikini tops and ultra-short denims.

And if you're wondering what to wear with those White shades ... check out these two columns.... Slip on some style and Sun protection with style.

Check out these other columns that review retro trends on today's fashions. Enjoy!

Part Two: Check out retro styling in the fashion's of the current movie "Sex and the City" with lots of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall photos, a fun video about the movie's fashions and a look at some fun photos of the 1980s influences in the fashion designs. Click here.

Part Three: A look at one of the most popular new colors to show up on the red carpet and in fashion forecasts...blue. Some call it Sapphire, some call it Cobalt ... it's a really really vivid blue that's rolling back into town after hiding out since the 1980s. Fun 'then' and 'now' photos... check out Demi Moore, Ali Larter, Kate Hudson, and Katie Holmes Cruise. Fashion video from Elle magazine. Click here.

Part Four: Is Madonna's 80s ConeBra making a comeback? Click here for a fun review!

Part Five: The Scarf...a great accessory to that can add style even to t-shirts and jeans! Click here to see how Katie Holmes, Kate Hudson, Sienna Miller and others "do" a scarf.

Part Six: Add some Leopard prints to your wardrobe...but be careful this bold looks can go wrong! See how Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez and others "do" the leopard look. Click here.