Suz! I think this cafe colour should be your new neutral! It works very well with your colouring! Also - the suit DOES look better on you than the model. You're totally working those pieces! I can see these being wardrobe workhorses because of the neutral tone and the cut of the jacket and pants.
Isn't Sveta amazing? She encouraged me to get the white Ann Taylor Loft jacket (another overdue WIW) and the flared jeans (too bad the faded blue didn't work with the rest of my wardrobe). She just has this talent for seeing what looks good on others!
On a side note, you mentioned how the suit looks better on you than the model. It really is true, and it's interesting how that is, because we often tend to assume how models look better in these clothes. Your statement reminded me of when the YLF Toronto gang went into Club Monaco and noticed how the outfit Emily tried on looked better on her than the model! In the end, I think it boils down to you guys wearing the same style that's more flattering on you (than the model) and also, you bring personality into the outfits (because a model's job is to display clothes after all).
Anyway, I rambled but I thought what you said was just so interesting!