My kids are 6 and 9.
They do have, clothing preferences and their own "taste" in clothing.
I do get them, what *I* know they will like.
BUT...they do not like skanky clothing. They just have their own personality.
AND also though, I have always spoken to them, about how some clothing choices are just REALLY in bad taste and tacky and skanky. Trashy clothes... my kids call it. They do know the difference. My kids dress like normal kids. But they do have their own taste in clothing and likes and dislikes. Its good. I think its good.
My daughter's Aunty once, TRIED AND TRIED to get my daughter to wear "preppy" clothing & styles. Because that is what she likes. But my daughter, does not like that type of clothing. At all. So try as she may, and Aunty even BOUGHT my daughter some preppy clothing... my daughter will not wear it. I told Aunty that, you cannot FORCE my daughter to wear something she does not like. I myself, do.not.like. preppy clothing.
About piercings... well, at a certain age, a kid CAN do it on their own ya know. ie: *I* did my own ear piercings... when I was a teen. I poked 3 holes in one ear lobe. At home. By myself. In my room. I did it cleanly, it did NOT get infected, and I did a good job. I showed my parents. They did not bat an eyelash. But of course, I was wearing a Mohawk as well, had colored hair etc. BUT I was a good kid, had good grades and good friends. My parents KNEW that. They weren't too hung up on how I looked or about appearances. And my parents are not wild or liberal people. They are, conservative. But I was not. But again, they did not get hung up, on what I wore or what I looked like. All in all, it was a phase. They knew that. And all in all, I was a good kid. THAT is the bottom line, that mattered to them most. Not my hair and not my clothes or color of it etc.
I would tell my own kids, NO tongue piercings.
But my kids at their ages, DO have clothing choices and tastes and preferences. I think, that is good.
They choose what to wear everyday, they get dressed, they look fine and are normal kids.