Explanation: Romans wore tunics, which generally did not reach the knees. Flexible and breathable! This includes the Roman Legions. Trousers were denigrated as 'barbarian', though Legions in northern areas and the later Empire would begin to wear them regularly.
Julius Caesar's right-hand man, Mark Antony, was noted as wearing scandalously short tunics to show off his muscular legs. Ooh la la!