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What women were wearing in the summer of 1966

The fashions of the 1960s may never go out of style. We hope not, at least. Clean lines and bold colors make for timeless looks. The clothes of 1966 reflected the pop culture of the time. Batman brought a campy kaleidoscope to new color TVs. Rock 'n' roll bands ditched their crisp suits for bright blouses as psychedelia crept in. It was the perfect midpoint between the formal looks of the 1950s and the hippie freedom that was to come.

You can see this all in the Sears 1966 "Spring though Summer" catalog. We got our hands on a copy the 1,600-page behemoth. Here are some of our favorite looks for juniors and women. Which did you wear? What would you still wear?

1. All plaid everything

You could mix and match these plaid separates, but the killer look was going all in on the tartan look.

2. "California Colors" and wood bead jewelry

Good news, Beach Boys! They all could be "California Girls." We love that a retail giant such as Sears would use an art reference like "Mondrian-inspired" in its copy. 

3. The cowboy look was not just for kids.

Ladies could look Gunsmokin' hot in hopsacked fabrics ready for the ranch.

4. The more flowers, the better. 

We don't remember any jumpsuits on The Rifleman, but this full-body floral look is fresh.

5. HATS! So many hats.

As you might have noticed, no Sunday outfit was complete without a cherry on top, at least if you're No. 24.

6. There were two options for the beach — Ginger or Mary Ann.

Of course, you had to have a hat for the shore, as well. The rubber-petaled Kleinert's Swimcaps kept the Esther Williams look alive.

7. Beach blanket bows

You could look sharp in the water in argyle, or opt for the Zippy the Pinhead look with that floppy yellow swimcap.

8. They kept it poppin' in poplin.

Poplin was the fabric of choice for pedal pushers and culottes.

9. Keep your upper body behind bars

Picket fences and flower beds were not just a quaint look for the front yard.

10. Or you could make your own clothes. 

There were pages of fabric — with trademarked, pharmaceutical-like names such as Fortrel — for making your own killer clothes.

11. Sugar Cane shoes.

The "imported straw look" was the hot thing for your feet.

12. The Route 66 reference was too good to pass up.

Here's a nice summary of looks. We love the "Junior Route 66" theme.

13. Juniors had a wide array of nautical styles.

As you might note in the fine print, these marine togs were also available in "Chubby Girls' Sizes."

14. Madeline was a fashion icon for young girls.

The more you could appear to have walked out of a children's picture book, the better.

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