Grey, black, white and olive shorts pair with tees for errands, hoodies when the temperature drops, and casual button-ups that still look like you tried. The rule that picks yours is the cut of the leg.
Men with a wider frame or looser thigh sometimes size up for comfort, and a slim tapered short makes a polo or button-up look intentional instead of accidental. Letter sizing runs M for 32–33 waists and L for 34 and 35.
1. Pace Breaker Short
Running shorts earn their place by staying out of the way, and grey ones are the easiest to pair. A black tee on top keeps the whole outfit to two tones, so the white sneakers become the one bright spot.
I like this mix for workouts because nothing needs matching beyond shoe and shirt. Keep the shorts a few shades lighter than the tee and the outfit holds together.
2. White Tee with Olive Shorts
Olive is the one color I’d add to a shorts drawer before navy or khaki. It sits quietly next to a white tee, and beige sneakers pull the pair into a soft, earthy palette.
Pick a tee with a relaxed, slightly loose body so it doesn’t fight the shorts. Sunglasses finish the look without adding another color.
I’d wear this on weekend errands, coffee runs and anywhere you want to look easy and put together.
3. Grey Tee and Black Shorts
A grey tee over black athletic shorts is about as simple as an outfit gets, and that is its strength. Black below and mid-grey above gives you a clear break at the waist with no pattern to manage.
White crew socks and white sneakers keep it clean. Pick a tee that skims the top of the shorts, not one that hangs past them.
Wear it for errands or the gym, and keep the colors this plain.
4. Black Tee with Grey Shorts
A fitted black tee with light grey shorts flips the usual dark-bottom, light-top formula, and I think it looks sharper for it. The dark top reads clean against the pale shorts.
Fit matters most here.
A snug short sleeve that ends at the bicep shows your build without looking tight. Choose a grey light enough to contrast with the tee.
Any plain sneaker finishes it, white being the easiest.
5. Grey Hoodie and Sweat Shorts
Matching grey on top and bottom reads as a deliberate set, not a random pile of gym clothes. A white tee under an open zip-up hoodie breaks the grey up and keeps the neckline bright.
Try to match the 2 greys as closely as you can; a mismatch looks accidental. White sneakers finish the outfit.
This is my pick for cool mornings and travel days, when comfort comes first and you still want to look pulled together.
6. White Tee with Heathered Shorts
Heathered grey has a soft, flecked texture that plain cotton shorts lack, and it makes a white tee look crisp beside it. Add white sneakers and the outfit is almost entirely neutral.
Striped crew socks are where I’d put the personality. They bring in a little color without touching the main pieces.
Keep the tee spotless, since white shows wear fast. It’s an easy outfit for a casual afternoon at home or out.
Sizing Recommendations
The fit runs true to size, though the leg is cut close enough that men used to a looser thigh sometimes size up.
If you’re used to baggier clothes, or you have a wider frame, size up in the slimmer styles.
Some lines are sized by waist measurement in inches. At 200 lb and just over 6 feet, I wear a 34 in the Commission short.
Others use letter sizing, small through double-XL.
A size L fits 34 and 35 waists, an M fits 32–33, and a S fits 30–31. Styles sold with a relaxed leg opening, like the Surge running short, are the exception to the tapered cut.
Buy online and you have 30 days to return or exchange, so order your usual size and the next one up if you’re unsure.
Care Instructions
Wash shorts gently to keep pilling down, and treat technical fabrics with the most care. Use a cool, gentle cycle and skip anything harsh.
Turn them inside out first, since the friction that causes pilling happens on the outer face. Wash them apart from rough items like jeans, towels and anything with a zipper or Velcro.
Hang them to dry, or use the lowest heat if you must use a dryer. High heat is hard on stretch fabrics and wears them out early.
Styling Tips
A casual button-up or a polo is the easiest way to make shorts look polished. Both have a collar, and the collar does the work of making the outfit look planned.
Tuck a polo only if the shorts have a clean, flat waistband; otherwise leave it out and make sure the hem ends around mid-fly.
For a short-sleeve shirt, wear it open over a plain tee or buttoned all the way for a cleaner line.
Choose a slim tapered short for this. Looser gym shorts pull the look back toward the gym, and the shirt can’t fix that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you wear with Lululemon shorts?
Keep it simple with a plain tee in black, white or grey and white sneakers.
A short-sleeve button-up or polo adds structure without dressing up too far. The shorts need a tapered leg for this to work; standard athletic cuts read too gym-focused.
How to look good in shorts as a guy?
Start with a fit that suits your build, then keep the colors to two or three tones. Olive, grey and black shorts are easy to pair, and white sneakers finish nearly any of them.
How to find size on Lululemon men’s shorts?
Order your usual size, since the fit runs true.
The fit through the thigh runs trim, so men who carry more size there may need to go up. S fits 30–31 waists, M fits 32–33, L fits 34–35, and you have 30 days to return or swap online orders.
How should I wash Lululemon shorts?
Use a cool, gentle cycle with the shorts turned inside out, because pilling comes from friction on the outer face.
Keep them separate from anything abrasive: denim, towels, zippers, Velcro. Air-dry them, or tumble on low; heat breaks down the stretch faster than anything else.
