OnlyOnAOL: Alyssa Milano on how she stays true to herself
By: Donna Freydkin
Mom of two Alyssa Milano, today clad in a ravishing Mimi Plange frock, has a very simple fashion rule for her everyday life.
A good jacket can cure any sartorial illness, and spruce up an outfit. She points to one on the couch nearby. "That's what I'm talking about: a great white coat," says Milano.
The actress and author has learned about style on camera, as the host of "Project Runway All Stars," airing on Lifetime on Thursdays. But sadly, all those amazing ensembles she wears on it aren't usually hers to keep. "It's usually two to three outfits per episode," she says, adding that most of them go back. "Not all of it, but a lot of it."
When she shoots the show in New York, Milano brings her whole family: husband Dave Bugliari and their kids Milo and Elizabella. And she sticks to routine as much as possible.
"I find that the nighttime ritual with the kids is very important to be home for. They are better rested if I'm home for that. Home-cooked meals as much as humanly possible. It makes a huge difference for them to see mom making dinner for them," says Milano.
She very famously broke out as a kid as tomboy Sam on "Who's the Boss?" but isn't sure about either of her kids entering the family business.
"So far, I know that my son is probably too shy to do it, which I love. Her, though? She's a little showman. The most important thing you can do as a parent is encourage who they normally would be, who they innately are, and give them the opportunity to be that, whether that means their sexuality," she says.
One of the many things we love about Milano: her unfailing ability to call things like she sees them. She's shared shots of herself breastfeeding while getting glammed up. And she never pretended to bounce back to a size zero one day after giving birth. "I work really hard to stay true to who I am, because I fought really hard to figure that out," she says.
Having a daughter makes being a role model that much more vital. "I didn't think about that stuff before she was born. Now, look, she eats ice cream and I'm like, 'You enjoy that!' I want her to have healthy views on food," says Milano.
