Ellie Goulding to sing at royal wedding

The royal couple will tie the knot at Westminster Abbey in London followed by a meal hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace and the 'Starry Eyed' singer has been invited to provide the after-dinner entertainment at an intimate gathering for 300 people hosted by William's father Prince Charles.

William and Kate reportedly chose the pop star because they believe her music will appeal to guests of all ages.

A source said: "William and Kate are huge fans of Ellie and were keen to sign her up.

"Her music goes down well with the young ones, plus a few of the older guests will be nodding their heads along.

"They really wanted a top British talent and the couple are delighted Ellie agreed to perform. She can't wait, although she's a tad nervous."

William, 28 and Kate, 29, hope Ellie will serenade them with her cover of 'Your Song' by Sir Elton John - who will attend the nuptials with his partner David Furnish - and the excited singer is said to be "honoured" with the invitation.

An insider told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Ellie was knocked off her feet when she received the invitation to perform for Prince William and Kate - and was so hugely honoured when they said they were both big fans of her music.

"She still can't quite believe that she will perform for the royal newlyweds, all the young royal guests and their friends, it hasn't sunk in yet."

Ellie, 24, will be accompanied by her boyfriend, DJ Greg James.

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Back to future with digital, classic leggings

Heavy digital patterns, ethnic and futuristic styles, flower motifs and shiny crystals -- designers at the just concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) showcased leggings in various varieties, making it the next big trend in the fashion world.

Designers like Rajesh Pratap Singh, Varun Bahl, Alpana-Neeraj, Gaurav Gupta, Kallol Datta and label Virtues showcased leggings in digital patterns and classic designs.

"The 1950s trends are very much in and this is the reason why digital leggings were used to meet the bling factor and add that extra zing to the collection," designer Puja Arya said in an interview.

Delhi-based designer Rajesh Pratap Singh's edgy collection teamed perfectly with leggings in shiny crystals and stones, creating a glamorous look.

Varun Bahl showcased a wide range of shift dresses and tunics with leggings which teamed well with hot pants. Designer Neeru Kumar, who flagged off WIFW, added charm to her collection with black printed leggings, whereas Mumbai-based designer Kallol Datta opted for black digital leggings.

According to designer Raj Shroff, this trend is very much in demand as they not only look glamorous but also give you the option to mix and match.

"The latest fashion trends have definitely brought leggings to the next level, offering countless ways to sport and match different clothing items. It was nice to see designers showcasing stunning combinations inspired by contemporary arts and architectural elements," said Shroff.

Kolkata-based designer Nil of Dev R Nil believes that both haute couture and street style are adopting this trend due to its pragmatic as well as aesthetic effect.

"Digital leggings are easy to mix and match and also, a bright digital print brightens up a dull outfit. One can update the wardrobe with dashing acquisitions that will not only boost confidence but also create a style of its own," said Nil.

"However, one has to be careful that since it's a 'statement piece', one should not go overboard with the accessorisation and footwear and keep them toned down, in case you are going for a bright digital legging."
Leggings, especially in digital prints, are one of the trendiest fashion items. Although they were in vogue for the last few years, these extremely chic and versatile pieces of clothes can still bring an exciting, new air to urban fashion.

Also, as the summer approaches, haute couture styles as well as casual and classic designs can be teamed up perfectly with leggings.

"One can add spice in their wardrobe with a glamorous new acquisition in groovy colours and geometric patterns. Also, girls can use their imagination to create dozens of different tasteful outfits for everyday wear and casual occasions as well. Team it up with long tees, mini dresses or tunics to create a chic urban look," said designer Ankita Chaudhary.

Apart from these sophisticated leggings, designers like Rahul Mishra, Anand Kabra, Anita Dongre and James Ferreira matched up their collection with stockings in pink and black hues, making it one of the checkout trends of the year.

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Discover the joker inside you

Argentinian clown theatre practitioner, Carla Guida Johnson, tells you how

Ever thought of a joke and cracked up? Or made absurd expressions at yourself in front of the mirror? Or broken into a jig while ambling along? That's the clown inside you wanting to break free.

While others may frown at your odd ways, clowning around in your day-to-day life is a great way to ease up. It helps bring down the façade of being busy and important that we all hide under. "Just let it go. Be like a clown and you'll see things in a positive light. Live in the moment and stop being selfconscious," recommends Argentinian clown theatre practitioner, Carla Guida Johnson.

The trick lies in tapping into the inner humour of our mundane lives. It makes stressful and sticky situations easier to deal with. Having a joker's attitude can do wonders for your personal, professional and social life.

Clowning around doesn't always mean doing acrobatic exercises, with multicoloured hair and a red blob on your nose. Take it for what it is; child's play. The methods may seem facile, but it's surprising how effective they can be. The actor, who will be conducting a workshop on clown theatre organised by Theatre Professionals next week, shares some of her techniques.

Being self-aware
One of the first things you can work on is being aware of yourself and conscious of what's happening around you. Start by trying to communicate exactly how you feel, when you feel it, by being true to your innermost emotions. This is what gives clowns their innocence. The clown is always attentive of the audiences' response. There's no distinction between public and private. They are a part of their audience and feed off the audiences' reactions and the situations they find themselves in.

Lose inhibitions
Clowns are always trying to be loved by the audience and do all they can to amuse them. Use your imagination and creativity freely. Don't beat yourself down with social norms and constraints of how things should be done. Do what you believe in and what comes naturally to you. The confidence that comes from believing in yourself is most empowering. A clown is the most confident performer only because they believe in what they do. More importantly, they enjoy doing it.

Switch off
Clowns are always perceived to be happy people but they aren't necessarily. They have their good and bad days too. There are times when things are not going great with them personally, or when they're unwell or in a bad mood, but as entertainers, they are expected to always deliver a good act. So they switch off from their current state and mentally move into a happier space. They develop the ability to identify humour in tragic situations. Try doing the same. No matter how badly things are progressing, switch off and try finding the funnier side of things. For instance, if you're the kind who takes thing too seriously, poke fun at yourself for doing that. Visualise yourself as a difficult, officious person. It'll positively crack you up.

Accept and adapt
Accept situations, adapt to them and then go with the flow. For instance, if the clown is stuck in a spot of bother, he/she just plays along. In the real world, if your boss is constantly at your case and you can't do much about it, use some humour to deal with the boss's idiosyncrasies. You'll notice an improvement in your interaction with them.

Use your body as a tool
Hop, skip and jump like a clown. Use your whole body to express your emotions. It expands the facility to express who we are. Do some yoga exercises such as surya namaskar, as these help the body to move in a more organic way. It also energises the body and makes it flexible. Dancing is also a great way to break free.

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Ways to get these fab abs

Cut back on your sugar consumption. It will make a whole lot of difference on your waistline.

Stay away from junk food. They contain processed salts that do nothing in enhancing your abs.

Snack on fruits and nuts instead of chips and chocolates.

There are aerobic exercises especially for abs that you can do for thirty minutes for five days week.

It is important that you workout your abs but first you need to learn the right technique of the exercises.

Half crunches are more effective in toning abs than full, complete crunches.

While doing sit-ups, cross your hands on your chest instead of holding them behind your neck. There are chances of spraining your neck.

Ensure that your neck is in line with the torso. Bending the neck instead of raising the torso is going to cause more harm than good.

Your movements should be slow and controlled. Don't rush through your workout.

A sure-shot way of making your workout interesting is by adding a variety of exercises for your upper abs, lower abs and obliques.

Rest for at least 20 to 40 seconds between repetitions.

When you get used to a certain workout regime, its time to upgrade. Introduce more sets and up the level of intensity in your exercise.

You must breath right to get the desired results. Remember to breathe out while your making the contraction and breath in when you relax. Breath out through your mouth and always concentrate on your breathing.

For a better result, always workout your abs with your legs and knees bent instead of stretched straight.

Working out your abs strengthens your lower back, automatically alleviating any lower back problems.

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Seven laws of attraction

 Surprising factors come into play when you are looking for a mate, we find

What does attraction really depend on? What makes you get attracted to a guy/girl you do not know? Experts say that attraction depends on the play of chemicals in our mind and on the kind of visual imagery presented to us, among other things. We found a few fun factors...

Nosing in
Fragrance really plays a big part when it comes to attraction and your nose can actually be a part of your foreplay. Experts say women should opt for a blend of lavender or something floral, while men should go for a fragrance with hints of musk.
The right period
Women are not attracted to the same kind of guys all the time. One week it may be the muscular physique that drives you wild, while the next week you probably have the hots for the slim guy next door. According to psychologist Seema Hingorrany, "Hormones play a major role in how a woman feels at any given time. When a woman is ovulating, she may prefer men with extremely masculine features. During this period, the sexual desire is usually very high. Meanwhile, menstruating women want men with softer, more feminine looks who seem kinder and more cooperative." Psychologist Shilpa Raheja adds, "The hormones at this time of the month makes the woman feel vulnerable, emotional and they therefore want someone who is empathetic and understanding."

Lady in red
You do not need to hear Chris de Burgh croon Lady in red... to figure out what this colour means to men. They are apparently influenced by cultural symbols that associate the colour with romance and sex. According to social psychologists, red may be 'the' colour men are attracted to. After all, the behind of some animals turn red when they are ready to mate! Seema adds, "Association comes into play here. Red is associated with 'sexy'. It is considered a bright and attractive colour that elevates your moods."

Mirroring you
This is an easy one. Body language experts have declared that mirroring your actions definitely proves that the person is subconsciously attracted to you. Subtle gestures like he/she is sitting the same way as you are, moving their hands in the same way and leaning their heads in the same direction are giveaways that the person likes you. Seema says, "One usually mirrors gestures of people they are attracted to and when someone subconsciously picks up gestures, they are probably just trying to get accepted."

Mommy is the best
Men look for nurturance in their relationships. And that is the reason why some men, unknowingly, look for someone who is similar to their mother in some way. Seema says, "I have had clients who have told me about how they fall for women who have eyes like their mother or hair like their mother. Our brain forms associations and men sometimes expect the same nurturance from their wife or girlfriend."

Be belly sure
Body language experts say that when you are attracted to someone, your whole attitude reflects that. One giveaway is that a man subconsciously positions his belly button toward the woman in the room he is most attracted to - even if he's speaking with someone else.

Touch me, touch me
If a guy touches you five times in the 15 minutes he is with you, then you are totally in! Psychologists say that a man usually finds excuses to touch you in order to see how you react. The way you respond will give him a hint of whether he is accepted or should back off.

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