In places like NYC, Nobody cares what you are dressed like, It wasnt the Satmar Rebbe who changed the culture of NY. it was NY that changed
You can be dressed as a Chassid, you can be dressed as a Muslim you can be dressed as someone from Africa, You can be a man dressed as a woman Nobody really cares.
People compare NYC to elsewhere in the US. What works well in NYC and vincinity does not work elsewhere in US. Try dressing like a Chassid in Alabama. It is NOT common and you will get stares