I’ve never really been one for chasing trends. Even when I was younger, I leaned toward pieces that felt a little more classic - things I knew I’d love wearing again and again.
But if I’m honest, back then it was also all about quantity. Working in corporate for over 20 years, I always had to "look the part". I thought variety was more important than style. But over time, I realised that constant chasing left me with a cupboard full of things I didn’t truly love - and very few that made me feel good.
As I’ve grown older, that’s changed completely. I’d rather own fewer things that feel incredible every time I wear them. I want pieces that last, that flatter, and that bring me joy. I appreciate the things that make me feel good - that move with me through seasons and stages of life. Quality over quantity. Less about fashion, more about freedom.
That belief is woven into Positano, too. I don’t just want to make swimwear or resortwear. I want to create pieces you’ll reach for every summer because they still feel right - timeless, confident, and YOU.
What Timeless Style Means to Me
For me, timeless style looks like this:
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Choosing quality over quantity.
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Pieces that can do double duty — from the beach to sundowners.
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Wearing what reflects me, not what’s “in” this season.
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And most of all, feeling joy when I slip something on.
And here’s something I’ve learnt over the years: style is also about buying clothes that fit your body, not being a slave to the size on the label.
I once attended a talk where the speaker said, “If the size bothers you, cut the label out.” That stuck with me. Because a number stitched into the back of a garment doesn’t define you - how it makes you feel when you wear it does. From that day, I shop for fit, regardless of the size, because I know a well-fitted piece looks classier and age-appropriate.
Since launching Positano, I’ve spent a great deal of time with women in my Noordhoek Boutique, and I've noticed how often they hold themselves back because of that little number. My wish is that every woman could let it go. Wear what makes you feel beautiful, supported, and confident - regardless of the size.
A Little Closet Tip I Use
If you’re standing in front of your wardrobe feeling overwhelmed, this is something that always helps me:
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Take everything out and put it on your bed. If that's too overwhelming, break it up into sections, ie, knitwear, dresses, etc
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For each piece, ask yourself:
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- Is this still in good condition?
- Do I feel good when I wear this?
- Can I style it in more than one way?
- Will I still love it a year from now?
Keep only the “yes” pieces. Donate or sell the rest. I find the Yaga App very easy and safe to use for selling items of good quality.
Every time I do this, I feel lighter - and suddenly I actually want to wear what’s in my cupboard.
🌺 How Positano Fits In
This is why I design Positano the way I do. The cuts are classic, the fabrics are made to last, and the styles are versatile. These aren’t pieces you’ll wear once and forget. They’re pieces you’ll love for years, because they’ll always feel like you.
Because when style is timeless, it never goes out of date. And neither do you.
💕 For You, Too
If you’ve ever looked at a wardrobe full of clothes and thought, I’ve got nothing to wear, you’re not alone. It’s not that you don’t have enough — it’s that what you have doesn’t reflect you.
So here’s to letting go of numbers, cutting out labels (literally, if you have to!), and choosing pieces that make you feel alive every time you wear them.
Because timeless doesn’t just fill your closet — it fills you with confidence.
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Why I created "The Next Chapter"
By Debbie Combrink June 19, 2026
If you'd told me years ago that one day I'd be coaching women through life's transitions, I probably wouldn't have been surprised.
Long before I started Positano, I was fortunate enough to be trained as a life coach as part of my corporate career. I worked with middle managers, helping them gain clarity, build confidence and step into their potential. It was rewarding work, and I absolutely loved it.
There was something incredibly fulfilling about watching someone realise they were capable of far more than they had ever imagined for themselves.
When I started Positano, I thought I was creating a clothing and swimwear brand.
What I didn't realise was that our Live Fabulously philosophy would become the catalyst for some of the most meaningful conversations of my life.
Over the years, women have shared so much of themselves with me. In the store. At the markets. During our Positano Plunges. Over coffee. Through messages and emails.
I've listened to stories of burnout, divorce, menopause, empty nests, online dating, changing careers and changing identities. I've met women who have spent years looking after everyone else and have slowly lost themselves in the process.
And I've met just as many women who aren't sure they've ever really known themselves at all.
Women who did everything they thought they were supposed to do.
Built the career.
Got married.
Raised the children.
Ticked all the boxes.
And still found themselves wondering:
"Is this it?"
I felt that burning question myself over 8 years ago when I made the decision to move from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
What followed was the start of one of the toughest, most rewarding journeys of my life.
One that humbled me in ways I wouldn’t want to repeat (thank you COVID!), but also paved the way for a more purpose-driven, authentic way of being in the world.
If you had told Joburg Debbie she would be modelling swimwear on the internet, I would have never believed it. Having been employed my entire career, becoming an entrepreneur wasn’t ever on my radar.
And yet, here I am hustling and tap-dancing as only a business owner knows how! And there’s nowhere else I would rather be… well, except Italy. On a beach. Sipping a cocktail! I digress…
Turning 50 has been a pivotal chapter in my own life. It's a new season of stepping fully into my power, caring less about what everyone else thinks, and continuing to focus on creating a life I don't need a holiday from.
It's also made me realise that many women are craving the same thing.
They're also craving connection.
Real connection.
Not another social media follower or WhatsApp group.
Someone who will genuinely listen, ask the hard questions and create the space to explore what comes next.
Not a different life.
A more authentic one.
A life that feels aligned with who they are today. Not when they were in their 20’s or before they had kids.
A life where they feel excited again.
Inspired again.
Alive again.
The Next Chapter was created for those women.
Women who know there is something more waiting for them, even if they can't quite see what it is yet.
Women who want a safe space to dream, explore possibilities, gain clarity and create meaningful change.
Women who want to stop existing and start truly living.
My hope is that every woman who joins this journey leaves feeling seen, heard and empowered to make choices that honour who she is and what she wants from this next chapter.
Because after spending so much of our lives being who everyone else needed us to be, perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves is the courage to ask:
"What do I want from this next chapter?"
And then give ourselves permission to find out.
Debbie xx
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I am often asked where I get the energy to do it all - grow a business, raise a teenager, keep the creative juices flowing, and still show up with a smile.
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