The ultrafeminine clothing of the 1950s and ‘60s reflected the cultural emphasis on:

lee and grant, both of whom held the highest rank in their respective armies, had known each other slightly during the mexican-american war (1846-48) and began their dialogue by exchanging awkward personal inquiries. characteristically, grant had arrived in his mud-splattered field uniform while lee had turned out in full dress attire, complete with sash and sword.

explanation:

the causes of the dust bowls were severe droughts,   lands became dry and hard, temperature was higher than usual, hot and dry conditions killed crops, high winds. because of those factors, the winds kicked up dry soil and created clouds of dust.