As director of event planning for local public relations company Style & Image Network, Joshua Beatty has a hand in some of the area's most fashionable events, such as the Beauty Night Out shopping party and the Fashion Fights Poverty runway show.

But don't mistake the 29-year-old Illinois native for a slave to fashion: For him, style is less about following trends and more about letting your personality shine. "It's always seemed to me that if you look good, it helps you to feel good," he says.

A fan of Euro-centric chains such as French Connection and Sisley, Beatty chooses sartorial statements that range from outspoken to understated. "I like for my tops to be either funky and wild or very simple, solid colors." His latest purchase? A white linen tunic from Banana Republic -- a must for keeping cool during July and August, because "in summer, I worship the ground linen is grown on."