‘It really broke our hearts.’ Missing prom makes senior year feel incomplete.

In the fashion story of many women’s lives, there are certain pieces that rise above all others — the christening gown, the senior prom dress, the wedding dress.

The prom dress is arguably second only to the cap and gown as the most memorable ensemble of a teenager’s young life. It’s more than just a garment — more than just fashion. It’s the uniform of a moment, a night immortalized in photos that signifies a transition from being a teen to becoming a young adult.

And unlike tuxedos, which are usually rented and promptly returned, the prom gown becomes a memento of that rite of passage, often tucked away in a trunk or closet, too sentimental in value to let go.

But for so many seniors this year, that dress has become something else — yet another reminder of a year upended, of disappointment and frustration caused by the cancellation of school activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 24, Gov. Roy Cooper said public schools, which initially were halted until at least May 15, would remain closed with virtual instruction to continue the rest of the school year.

“I got my dress in January, since my prom was supposed to be in May,” says Katie Shugg, a senior at Apex High School. “You’re looking forward to that one day you get to put it on, and there’s only one day that you get to wear it for a special event. You can’t really wear it again. It’s a one-time thing.”

For many local seniors, the cancellation of proms means those treasured dresses — some bought months in advance or custom-made — will continue to hang in the closet, untouched other than try-ons and at-home photo sessions standing in for the real prom-night thing.

“When I first got it, for the first couple of weeks afterward, I’d put it on and take pictures,” says Emma Persson, a senior at Green Hope High School, of her sparkly purple gown.

“I chose it because I am a huge proponent of glitter — I absolutely love glitter,” she said. “I was so excited to wear it. Having that chance taken away after building it up for so long is really hard.”

For Taylor Debnam, a senior at Enloe High School, her prom dress — a pink sequined floor-length gown — is the realization of a childhood fantasy.

“I have been thinking about it since elementary school,” says Debnam. “I always imagined a pink ballgown-type dress, really sparkly. I’ve always loved sequins, so when I found this dress, it was everything I imagined.”

Debnam, a sophomore last year, is graduating early, so this was her one shot at prom.

“I feel like everything has become so rushed,” she says. “And it has been upsetting because I’ve been thinking about this and preparing for my senior year for a while.”

Omare McBride, a senior at Apex High School, has waited a long time to wear her dress, too. McBride’s stunning floor-length gown was handmade in Nigeria, her mother’s native country. McBride was part of the process from the beginning, choosing the fabric colors and pattern, and her mother traveled to Africa months ago to pick up the gown in person.

“I thought it would be cool to wear something that represents me and my background,” she says. “It’s kind of sad because it was made just for prom, but right now there’s nowhere to wear it to. I feel like high school’s not complete without prom.”

For Garner Magnet High School senior Maddie Foushee, choosing her dress was like one of those emotional wedding show moments. After seeing another girl try on the dress, Foushee fell in love with the gown. Her hopes were dashed when that girl decided to buy it — the only one available in the Cary boutique.

But at the last minute, the initial buyer changed her mind, and Foushee scored her dream dress — a green ball gown with a beaded sweetheart neckline.

“When I put it on and looked at myself in the mirror, I started crying,” she says. “It just felt right, and I just knew it was meant to be my dress.”

What happened to prom?

What has been even harder for Foushee is missing out on the fun of the big night with her friends.

“I was really excited to dress up with my friends to have fun and be fancy,” she says. “I’m disappointed.”

Just like a prom dress is more than just a dress, for many teens, the event is about more than just a dance. It’s part of the high school experience, one that includes shopping trips with family and friends, pampering sessions to get hair and makeup done and the chance to feel a little famous as you pose for photos in your fancy clothes before being whisked away in a limo for dinner.

Without it, senior year feels even more incomplete.

“We planned our hair, nails and makeup, figured out where we were going to take pictures as a group, rented limos,” says Lauren Kohr, a senior at Garner Magnet High School. “The excitement is the main part, and for that to be taken away, we were really bummed out. It really broke our hearts.”

And a big part of that excitement is the chance to, at least for one night, cross the threshold into impending adulthood, and enjoying a night on the town sans parents. Even for those who attended the dance in previous years, the senior prom stands apart.

It’s one last chance to be with friends before everyone heads off to college, work or whatever adventure lies ahead.

The experience provides closure, not just on high school, but a cap on 13 years of schooling.

“We’ve been really excited about this for a long time,” says Cameron Clowes, a senior at Apex Friendship High School, who was planning to attend prom with Sadie Amato, his girlfriend and next-door neighbor. “And Sadie went dress shopping in December.”

“It’s a big loss because we feel like we worked really hard these past four years,” continues Amato, also a senior at Apex Friendship High School. “The prom and other things like graduation we might miss out on are supposed to be sort of a reward for that, and now we’re not getting it.”

The Prom Project

The News & Observer wants to continue to tell the story of how coronavirus has impacted your senior year. If you would like to participate in our prom project and have your portrait taken, contact Ethan Hyman at ehyman@newsobserver.com.

This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 10:31 AM.