A reason Jews in America today can go out in the street fully dressed like a Jew, including in full Chasidic regalia, is in no small part thanks to the Satmar Rebbe ztvk’l zy’a. The Satmar Rebbe, as soon as he got off the boat and was living in Williamsburg put his Shtreimel on his and walked to Shul. His gabbai whispered to him if he could hold his Shtreimel until they got to Shul — the Yidden in America were afraid of walking outside in a yarmulka! No one ever saw a Shtreimel on the streets! The Rebbe just sweetly smiled and said lomer gein.
And with the Shtreimel on his head he went unto the streets of America. At first it was a sight to behold. But in short order, others started losing their fear (or embarasement) and the Jewish clothing became a common sight.
Today, Baruch Hashem, no one bats an eyelash at the common sight of Jews dressed as Jews on the streets of America.