The lower ranking members indeed are gangbangers or cholos like they call them in Mexico. The way they dress is nothing cool about. From the middle and upper management level of a cartel there hundreds of different people whom all dress differently. It isn't a corporation who lays down the dresscode or something. There are old guys who walk around in flip flops and then there are some who walk with a cowboy hat. The younger powerfull guys usually dress to impress but other than that there isn't a specific way the stronger members all dress alike.
And people that join the cartels, choose for a life of crime like any other career criminal: for the money and not because it is an ''exciting career with many benefits''.
Btw The Zetas are split up again I think there is a war between the older and younger generation. With the older guys going for the name Escuela Vieja and the younger guys cartel del norte. But it isn't 100% clear yet what is going on aside from the killings and 2 factions insulting each other with banners.
I don't know I think it depends on what city you are on. In the border towns the lower ranking members like halcones you call them cholos but they aren't your stereotypical Californian cholo they wear fake "expensive" clothes like Armani, American Eagle but then again like I said they aren't stereotypical. The sicarios wear the same clothes but it depends on the age, they aren't stereotypical for sure. Tattoos are becoming more popular in organized crime in Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Cohuila..border states in the lower ranking members but I've seen commadantes with them. In Sinaloa and Jalisco it's a very different style, they have different style but no specific style same with the border state cartel members. But I've heard of the Buchones.
