I have been thinking these days about how us MtF's of all types think of ourselves. I want to speak candidly about it to open a platform on this, so don't take offence, none is intended.
I feel as if we think "Oh No!! I wear panties - everyone is going to hate me if they find out..." or "I'm too strange, I'm weird who could love a man in a dress!!". I started to think, well I'm guilty of thinking the same way also. Yes, those who are in long term relationships built of a foundation of almost truths with their SO, it will be strange and people are totally within their right to reject you for such deceit. But for everyone else, why are we afraid?
If you came out to everybody today, who would you lose? I thought about this and I came to my mind that, hell - nobody significant. Its like how coming out as gay would have been a few decades ago, people close to you don't care about the dresses they care about you (exception of untold wives, they ought to have always known). Only those people who have something against you would leave, and bon voyage to them if they want trouble. The difficulty is in accepting yourself.
So, you wear Panties - you want a medal? So, you wear a dress - big whop, wonna fight about it? Stop thinking you are special, it doesn't help, we are not special! We are normal people, like everyone else! If we treat it as some horrible secret, and hating ourselves for it, then dam no wonder people think crossdressing is bad. If you know it your heart you want to dress, do it - and don't hide it. Being in plain sight is a relief, being honest with people you care about is as cathartic as dressing. And you start to genuinely ask yourself why you do it, and that question that has haunted you while in the closet suddenly answers itself. If you can't accept yourself, maybe your friends will and then you do too.
For some specific situations sure, it is sensible to stay professional obviously and of course, sometimes I don't need how I dress to be under scrutiny (much like what religion I have). But this closet culture we have is damaging to everything we do, dress how you like. You are free and you are not stranger than the next guy, you aren't the only one in the world. Break out of your chains and live your life, we don't need to take ourselves so seriously!