Myth of '90s Fashion

That happens to every generation. The 80's wasn't as bright as it was on the tv screen.

You're correct, obviously most people didn't dress that way in the 90s, but I'm sure there were a few who did.

But the thing is, Hackers is all about style. Everything is a stylized version of reality, not reality itself.

"people look at him and snicker of '90s fashion. "
No they dont, because nobody ever watches this film!

It’s not trying to create an image of the 90s, it was trying to create a stylised version of reality that was edgy, almost futuristic in a trendy way. To me this movie is like a 90s video clip.

Oh yeah, even when I was in that decade, I kept wondering why people wore all these crazy, colorful fashions and wild hairstyles, when nobody was nearly that extreme with fashion in real life.

It took me years to figure out why this was. It's usually due to:

1.) Being done on purpose to keep up aesthetics in the tv show or movie, as well as draw attention to the characters.

2.) Many [less-famous] costume designers live in L.A. and often are completely ignorant of how people dress or do their hair in other parts of the US. So what you're looking at is usually the result of either cranking up Southern Californian styles to 10; or the costume designer is an idiot who didn't do their homework, didn't care, and had no sense of style. You can usually blame many small-time male costume designers for putting shitty outfits on the female actors.

3.) Sometimes it's done on purpose to exaggerate a stereotype or show just or crazy, flamboyant, or extreme the character is.

Reported

Cereal never struck me as a 90s fashion icon. He's a total freak doing his own weird ass funky fugly thing.

Next thing you know, someone will say that's not how hacking looks like either.