Angie (and everyone else),
In your blog post today, you've shown your suit jacket not only with the matching pants (which I assume are the same fabric) but also with an older skirt that I assume did not come as part of the suit. What is the general consensus these days about making a "suit" out of mismatched (but same color) fabrics? I remember when this was a huge no-no, and my husband says it's still a no-no for men's suits (you never, ever break them up, is what he says). ETA: Is this going to be inherently more casual even if it's OK?

I don't own a suit right now, but I think I need to seriously start looking for one so I will have it when I need it. I'm wondering whether I need to buy all the pieces at once (jacket, trousers, skirt) or whether I can sub in a different skirt or trousers if I find one I like better. I assume it would be very hard to match fabrics though, unless it is from exactly the same line. Thing is, I rarely find both a skirt and trousers from the same line that fit me right. I'd want to be able to wear it for things like interviews, so I would want to err on the side of formal and classic.

I do already plan on doing less formal mismatched suit looks with different color pieces. I assume for this kind of more casual look it's OK if the fabrics don't match.