Red carpet fashion: Why a red dress is a sign of confidence

, a recent poll by Dove has revealed. Scarlet dresses dominated the 2014 Emmy Awards red carpet on Monday, with celebrities such as

and

opting for red gowns.

also chose the colour for her dress at the 2014 Oscars ceremony, while Jennifer Lopez stunned in scarlet at the Billboard music awards.

The top five colours linked to confidence also included hot pink, purple, black and blue. While the Dove Colour Confidence poll revealed that 40 per cent of those asked admitted they

, 51 per cent of women admitted they still opt for black outfits when it comes to interviews or dates. "Women in the UK are shying away from wearing colour because they often lack the confidence to do so," said colour psychology expert Karen Haller. "But wearing the right colour can often play a role in giving women a confidence injection." Designer

, who counts

and

amongst her celebrity fans, was quick to highlight that wearing colourful clothes doesn't have to be a challenge.

"Colour need not just be about the brights," she revealed. "

confidence into your clothes without going outside your comfort zone." "Colour is so important to me," she added. "I have built my label upon relying on the use of colour and print within all the textiles I design. Whether it be a combination of pastel hues, fluorescent tones or more subtle nudes, there is no reason for UK women to shy away from colour."