What to wear for an academic job interview

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Having finishing my PhD I am applying for jobs and have got my first interview for a research position at a UK university in a few weeks time.
What do you wear? Nobody in academia (that I have seen) ever wears a suit on a day to day basis, or even dresses smartly really, jeans etc mostly.
So for interview obviously I am not going in jeans, and I do own a suit (dislike wearing it though). Would black skirt and blouse be too admin-like? Should I just wear the suit and feel like an idiot!?

And good luck! ??

I got the first job I interviewed for post PhD. I wore a black sticky out skirt and a sort of asymmetric top from cos. and wedges.

My next postdoc I got the first one I went for too, I wore a lovely patterned dress from atterley road and heels.

I think you just need to look presentable and like you understand what sort of behaviour is required. I still wear dresses and cos tops to work but now I am the smartest person in my department - all the others wear fleeces

My DD has just scored a job in legal publishing. She had three interviews. She wore this black dress and this jacket. She wore the same jacket for the two subsequent interviews. Once with Black/cream trousers and a plain black wool top from Next and the last one some grey houndstooth check trousers from Ted Baker and a cream top from Next. No suit in sight - more relaxed smart. She also wore flat plain black shoes. I think you really need to feel comfortable in an interview. If you don't feel like you you won't present as well.

Going against the grain here, for an academic job at senior lecturer level or below in my field (humanities) I wouldn't wear a suit (as a woman, rules are a bit different for men, I think). My impression of that interviewee were that they were 'trying to hard' to appear more senior/ confident than they were by overdressing.

I'd wear smart black or navy trousers (or skirt), smart top, non-matching jacket. No overly bold or garish colours or patterns. Flats or low heels. No fabulous make-up or jewellery that might be a distraction. You want them to be listening to you, not looking at what you're wearing.

Thanks all, lots of helpful comments, am currently perusing Debenhams online for jacket/blazers and dresses.
Not economic or law so the suit can stay in the cupboard :)

Another lecturer here - I wore a smart black dress, opaques and boots to my last interview, with some pewter jewellery. (No jacket other than my winter coat which I obviously removed.) I also had red lipstick and painted nails - a kind of taupe colour - which is standard for me. My usual day to day outfits at work are either dress/opaques/flats or black skinny jeans/blouse - people in my place tend to dress for the subject they teach, so for example, law in suits, creative subjects less formal.

I'm an academic in a humanities subject and it seems to be the norm to wear dresses - smarter ones for interviews or meetings, less so for teaching and day to day stuff. I gave away all my suits when I left my admin job! As an aside, my PhD supervisor said that looking 'distinctive but smart' when applying for jobs is helpful - makes you memorable. So perhaps a plain ish dress with a beautiful necklace or unusual jacket? Good luck!

Smart dress and a stylish blazer. Nothing that looks too severe.

Thanks all, went for dress and blazer.
Didn't get the job but got some really useful feedback :)