Men's legwear went through numerous transformations throughout the various eras of the Middle Ages, making it difficult to refer to just one type of "Medieval trousers." Accordingly, we have included a variety of trouser models in our collection to reflect the typical characteristics of different centuries and climates.
Medieval Trousers Over the Eras
In the early Middle Ages, men in the southern regions often didn’t wear trousers at all, instead wearing knee-length tunics. However, in the North, things were quite different, as shown by findings from the Thorsberg Moor and Haithabu. It has also been established that as early as 700 BCE, trousers were commonly worn by the Scythians, Sarmatians, Dacians, as well as by Celtic tribes. Another widespread practice was wrapping fabric strips around the calves and knees.
During the High Middle Ages, trousers were more of an exception. Instead, men wore bruchen (a type of linen underwear), which were considered undergarments, sometimes paired with attached leggings. It wasn't until the Late Middle Ages that trousers returned to the fashion scene.
