School turns teen girl away from prom for breaking the dress code by wearing a suit

For many girls, prom is all about wearing a stunning dress and making a statement. But for 16-year-old Sophie Savidge from Florida, the dream was to attend prom in a suit. As a junior at Mason Classical Academy, Sophie eagerly arrived at her prom on May 11 at Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples, Florida. To her dismay, she was turned away for violating the school's prom dress code, according to NBC. While the rejection shocked Sophie and her mother, Holly, the internet remains divided on the issue.

Despite her mother's attempts to explain that wearing dresses wasn't Sophie's style and "it’s just not her," the school's vice principal, Nissa Mitchell, insisted she could attend the prom only if she changed into a traditional prom dress. This left Sophie feeling anxious, as she hadn't anticipated it being an issue. Earlier in February, she had worn a suit to a Valentine's Day dance without any problems. "They have never denied her before, but we were willing to take that risk because that’s just who Sophie is. I’m very proud of her for taking that risk," her mom shared.

Following the headlines, the school issued a statement about their strict "Guidelines to Attire," reported WBBH. The statement said, "Mason Classical Academy has clear dress code guidelines for all dances. These guidelines are presented and outlined to all students and parents. Any student who arrives at an MCA dance and does not follow the dress code is given the opportunity to return in proper attire. All students are treated equally at MCA and are encouraged to attend these voluntary events." By purchasing the $85 prom ticket, students are deemed to have accepted the dress code.

Savidge's mom took her daughter for an ice cream after being denied entry to the prom. She told the news channel that this incident was difficult for Savidge to handle as she had recently lost her father. Hearing about Savidge's terrible experience at prom, fashion designer Peter Jean-Marie reached out to the teen. "Today I had the pleasure of meeting with her (Savidge's) mother along with Sophie and gifted her $400 worth of Peter Jean Marie Bowties. Rules or not, a child’s self-esteem is something I will not ignore, especially when it comes to suits. I don’t care to debate or answer any questions, I am just a fashion designer," read Jean-Marie's Instagram post. However, when NBC shared Savidge's news on YouTube, the users had mixed responses. 

Many came in Savidge's support and criticized the school for disrespecting her choices. "Seems like a nice enough kid and well-spoken. It was totally ridiculous to turn her away," said @SJ-zw4yn. "She was dressed well, NO ONE states you have to wear a dress, NOT even a dress code, as long as your clothes are not torn, or raggedy, or shorts. Then you should be able to wear pants or a skirt or dress. Obviously, this school is not teaching anything," added @user-cat2024. 

However, some people found Savidge's outfit inappropriate for prom and held that she should've followed the dress code. "If you attend a private school with a dress code and they specifically state what was allowed for Prom, then why do you feel it’s okay to do what you want? If that’s your attitude, then by all means, attend public school. Nobody is forcing you to go to private school," pointed out @Truthseeker1841. "She just didn’t want to confirm. Too bad. Follow the rules, and check your delusions at the door," remarked @LadieKadie.