Chausses appeared in the European Middle Ages in the late 11th century and henceforth became established as legwear in Central and Western Europe. Their origin can possibly be found in Byzantium. What we know is that they were originally the fashion of the ruling class and from there, spread to the population.

The tight chausses, which were always made of wool and could be seen both with and without an integrated foot part, henceforth determined the beauty ideal of men's fashion.

At the beginning of the 15th century, chausses began to resemble closed trousers more and more; they became higher and eventually grew together at the top.

With the success of chausses, the beautiful calf became one of the fashionable figureheads of male attractiveness for centuries. Accordingly, chausses should not fit loosely like modern trousers but rather like close-fitting tights. This is made possible by the textile properties of wool.