Lori Coulter is co-founder and CEO/president of Summersalt, the disruptive swimwear and travelwear brand named on CNBC’s list of The World’s Most Promising Startups and featured in People, In Style, Elle, Forbes and more. Fresh off of closing a Series B funding round raising $17.3 million, Lori and co-founder Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin are dominating the direct-to-consumer fashion category. They’re combining technology and fashion to deliver products that fit an active lifestyle.
Lori, Reshma and the Summersalt team are trailblazing a lifestyle offering for women while changing the global conversation around women’s bodies. They are incredibly passionate about their mission and are “here to help women feel sexy on their own terms, exactly as they are.” I met Lori soon after I started working with the Summersalt team on a few styling projects (including the launch of their first product category outside of swim) and continue to root for them every day. We’re fortunate and excited that Lori and her team call St. Louis home.
My personal style is modern and classic, but with a twist.
The best piece of fashion armor in my closet is my Summersalt bodysuit! It’s great just with jeans or under a blazer for a meeting—versatile and comfortable!
I’m making my mark by changing the conversation around women’s bodies.
A professional/personal challenge that keeps me up at night is that only 3% of venture capital goes to women-owned businesses! Reshma and I are so grateful to be able to build Summersalt in St. Louis and are excited to pay it forward to other female entrepreneurs.
In moments of self-doubt, I build myself back up by reflecting on all we’ve built at Summersalt and the amazing team I get to work with every single day!
My version of self-care is hanging out with my husband and my boys, the three loves of my life.
Words of wisdom that resonate with me are, a “no” today doesn’t necessarily mean a “no” tomorrow—keep your connections strong, and doors tend to open.
I stay true to my passions by prioritizing. It’s important for me to edit my life so I can focus on what’s important. Right now, I’m hyper-focused on Summersalt while making sure my family knows they come first.
I’m most proud of building Summersalt from the ground up! We’ve done so many incredible things in such a short time, and I can’t wait for what the future holds.
The one thing I would like to say to every woman in the world is, think big, and don’t sell yourself short! And when you’re pitching to someone, make sure you are painting the biggest version of your idea in a way that makes it incredibly clear how you can achieve it together.
lori’s power pieces
Laura Katherine Sawyier is a women’s personal and wardrobe stylist and founder of the SALON X LKS event series. She is based in St. Louis and New York City. To find out more, visit lauraksawyier.com.