Florida Teen Says She Was Turned Away from Her Prom for Wearing a Suit: ‘Really Shocked’

"She doesn’t like to wear dresses — it’s just not her.’ And [the vice principal] said, ‘Well, unfortunately, those are the rules,' " said the 16-year-old's mom

• Sophie Savidge says she was not allowed to attend her high school prom because she chose to wear a suit

• “They have never denied her before, but we were willing to take that risk because that’s just who Sophie is,” her mom said

• The school’s formal dress code for events says ladies are to wear “one piece attire only,” including a “formal evening gown” or “cocktail dress” with “dressy flats”
  

A Florida teenager has revealed she was unable to attend her school’s prom — all because she was wearing a suit.

Sophie Savidge, 16, who attends charter school Mason Classical Academy in Naples, dressed up in a black suit with a matching green vest, tie and nails for her prom on Saturday, May 11, but when she got to the door with her friends, she said they wouldn’t let her in, according to NBC affiliate WBBH-TV and NBC News.

Sophie’s mother Holly, told NBC News that they were informed by school staff that the teenager was turned away because her suit violated the school’s dress code and that she would be allowed in if she went home and changed into a dress.

“I was so upset,” Holly told the outlet. “I said, ‘Sophie doesn’t wear dresses. She doesn’t like to wear dresses — it’s just not her.’ And [the vice principal] said, ‘Well, unfortunately, those are the rules.’ ”

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She shared that her daughter had been looking forward to having a fun night out with her friends after the death of her father the month prior, saying, “That was the one thing up ahead that gave her some light at the end of the tunnel or something fun to look forward to, was that prom.”

Sophie added that she was left "really shocked" by the incident, "because I didn't think that it was going to be a problem."

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Mason Classical Academy did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The school did give a statement to WBBH-TV, saying that the school has “clear dress code guidelines” for what students are allowed to wear for events.

Related: Tx. School District Adopts Gender-Neutral Dress Code After Suspending Male Student for Nail Polish

"The dress codes are clearly presented and outlined to all students and parents,” the school continued. “Any student who shows up to an MCA dance and does not abide by the dress code is given the opportunity to return to the dance in the proper attire. All students are treated equally at MCA and are welcome and encouraged to attend these voluntary events."

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According to the school’s formal dress code for events, ladies are to wear “one piece attire only,” including a “formal evening gown” or “cocktail dress” with “dressy flats.”

Sophie and her mom told NBC News that while they were aware of the dress code — it hasn’t stopped Sophie from attending previous school formal events in a suit before, including a Valentine’s Day dance in February.

“They have never denied her before, but we were willing to take that risk because that’s just who Sophie is,” Holly told the outlet. “I’m very proud of her for taking that risk.”

Sophie said she had researched court cases about dress codes, but when the time came, she didn't know what to do. “I was thinking I could possibly argue that with them if they said that I couldn’t come in, but I ended up being just kind of too shocked and nervous to really say anything to them,” she told NBC News.

The high school junior, who is planning to be homeschooled next year, said that since her story was shared by local news, two other students have thanked her for speaking out on the dress code issue because they also wanted to wear suits to formal events. She also got the chance to pick out some free silk bow ties from local Naples designer Peter Jean-Marie.

Sophie said she hopes her story will inspire students to “stick up for what they believe in” and “keep on pushing through even if other people don’t agree with how they want to express themselves.”

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