Elsa Dutton From Yellowstone Is Gorgeous In Real Life

From the modern-day bunkhouse of Dutton Ranch to the wilds of the 1880s, the "Yellowstone" universe has grown to encompass a range of Western settings and powerful characters. One particularly memorable personality is Elsa Dutton from the prequel series "1883," who made narrative appearances on "Yellowstone" and "1923" as well. As a young woman traveling through dangerous environments with her family, Elsa doesn't have much time for softness. Independent and sometimes tomboyish, Elsa isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, whether she's making the shocking choice to don trousers instead of skirts or grabbing a pistol to help protect her caravan.

"She's someone that was faced with hardship, pain, and loss," actor Isabel May said of Elsa's character to People in 2023, "and despite all of that, still found beauty in the world around her and still found a way to live fully." Elsa's journey includes a lot of emotional turmoil and practical adjustments to her new frontier lifestyle, and by the end of the series, she comes a long way from corseted Victorian fashions, evolving into a cowgirl in her own right.

In real life, though, May has a more glamorous aesthetic. She portrays a gritty, resilient character for the cameras but cleans up awful nicely off-set — like many of her peers on other shows from hitmaker Taylor Sheridan. (For instance, foul-mouthed Teeter from "Yellowstone" is stunning in real life, too!) In contrast to Elsa's occasionally rough-and-tumble appearance, May embodies a polished contemporary aesthetic that wouldn't last long out on the plains of "1883."

In terms of wardrobe, you couldn't get much farther from Elsa Dutton's dusty Western wear than Isabel May's sharp couture. While the actor may be a relative newcomer on the Hollywood stage, her outfits show the poise of a much more experienced celeb. For example, May appeared at the 2022 CMT Music Awards to help her on-screen mother, Faith Hill, present the award for best video, and her ensemble certainly didn't disappoint.

May arrived at the CMT red carpet wearing a pale-pink, floor-length gown that was elegant in its simplicity. The asymmetrical piece achieved balance with its one-shouldered neckline, high slit, and generous midriff cutout, all without coming across as forced or risqué. It was a remarkably effective silhouette — and centuries away from anything we saw in "1883."

Of course, it's not too surprising that May's fashion sensibility is a sharp left turn from Elsa's — before embarking on the challenge of filming in the Texas heat, May was a city girl, through and through. "I was born and raised in Los Angeles; I've spent most of my life in big cities like New York City and Los Angeles. So I didn't have much experience with the outdoors," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022. That's quite a stark difference from Elsa, who bluntly says in "1883" Episode 5, "I think cities have weakened us as a species." But growing up as a city-slicker accustomed to modern comforts doesn't mean that May always sticks to the familiar. Sartorially speaking, the young actor is more than happy to experiment with different vibes.

In "1883," Elsa Dutton's clothes exist at two ends of a spectrum as she transforms from a buttoned-up young woman to a propriety-be-damned cowgirl. In real life, Isabel May also plays with highly different styles, exploring the range between hyper-feminine and menswear-inspired fashions. For instance, at the 2021 world premiere of "1883" in Las Vegas, May was delicate in diaphanous pink. With dainty detailing and airy layers of silk chiffon, her Prada halter dress was worthy of a fairy or ballerina.

On the other hand, May showed off how to nail androgynous dressing by donning precise tailoring for Ralph Lauren's Fall 2022 fashion show in New York City. Her high-collared button-up was sharp against black slacks and a pair of formal suspenders, creating the air of a reimagined tuxedo. Topping the look with a heavy gray coat added weighty impact in the best way, giving May some serious gravitas.

May's visual versatility just goes to show that we can't put performers into a single style box, especially when we're used to seeing them in niche or period-specific roles. For more evidence, just consider a few other of Taylor Sheridan's female stars — for one, Emily from "Yellowstone" is also gorgeous in real life.