Look at old paintings and portraits from the centuries past and you will see that men wore these. I think they even wore them in battle, the reason being they are practical. Men in combat now put their greens in their boots and use a device to tighten them up and the effect is similar to leggings. Were leggings widespread women fashion when Ike took his troops into the European theater, I feel sure Patton would have found them suitable attire for combat.