The Real Uniform in 'Lean On Me'

Okay, so I just rewatched 'Lean On Me' and, as usual, I'm obsessed with more than just Joe Clark's… methods. LOL. Seriously though, the clothes tell a story, and I think it's on purpose by the costume designer. We see Eastside High at the start, and it's ALL about the gang colors. Denim jackets, specific sneaker brands, you know the look. It screams division and, honestly, a lack of anything school-related beyond just SHOWING UP. Like the school is failing, and so is the way these kids are presenting themselves to the world. Then comes Joe Clark, and suddenly there's this push for… well, frankly, borderline fascist order. But costume-wise, it's a visual representation of his authoritarian control. He gets rid of the gang colors, tries to enforce 'cleanliness' (which, uh, let's unpack THAT later), and in a way, he's forcing a uniform without technically issuing one. Everyone is now dressed down and homogenized in an attempt to create a unified image -- and its a deliberate attempt to erase the gangs at all costs, even if it means stripping the kids from some of what makes them them. I think the whole point of the film -- and maybe I'm reading too much into this, lol -- is that the real 'uniform' wasn't just what the kids were wearing, but the oppressive atmosphere he created. He literally controlled their self-expression, and he did that thinking that it was for their own good. The way the film plays with the visual cues of clothes before and after he shows up just really drives home the themes of control versus… well, total chaos, I guess? Anyway, just my two cents. What does everyone else think about the costuming and how it reflects the power dynamics in the movie? Am I totally off base here? Probably, buuuut I still think about it!