some advice on multi mesh characters

Is this easily done?
I am looking to create some multi mesh characters ie head, torso, hands, legs, feet all have separate meshes. This is to enable character to change outfit/armour. Is this easy to achieve with meshes and maintain animations and also how hard to change texture I can have a green or blue texture for character top. The mesh change is to allow visual changes to character that needs more than a mere texture change.