I feel there are a lot of sides of this that needs looking at, because it almost sounds as if you want to buy it to 'be more furry', but... here, let me elaborate.
My first thought is:
It sounds to me you want to be and feel more furry by buying stuff.
In my opinion being a furry: You either are or aren't one. Any/Either are fine. It's in your mind and heart that counts.
For example: Quite a few people want a fursuit but might never be able to buy one, but they're still a furry regardless.
In fact, most furries don't have a fursuit. Having or wearing a fursuit doesn't just make you a furry. If that was the case then how easy would it be to 'convert' people into the furry fandom? If only! Yeah, that's not how it works
My first point here is: You don't need to buy or wear anything to make yourself a furry.
My second thought:
Don't show your pride of the furry fandom. Show pride in yourself.
Wearing something to show pride for something might indeed backfire, depending on the situation. I know I have friends in real life and in other various situations I can be in where I can be myself whenever I want to. But I wouldn't want to those exact same things in other, completely different situations with people I don't know.
It's not only that I would feel uncomfortable, but I'm sure others would feel uncomfortable too.
That said, I don't care too much what others think in real life. Whatever I do or say, I try to do or say in complete confidence.
You can have the right mindset but as long as you look and sound inconfident, no one is going to take you seriously and might even make fun of you.
Considering you're worried how others might react -which is a good worry to have, no worries ;D - I feel to a regard you need to grow some confidence first before trying anything out, especially in public. Otherwise it might indeed backfire and you might stop doing what you like to do because you simply didn't have the right coping mechanisms for it.
If that makes sense.
In the end:
Don't buy or wear things just to be something or to be a part of something. Buy or wear things because you want to.
If you do want to buy and wear things: You can do this at home or in public. Or you don't have to wear it anywhere at all, you can just 'have it'.
Just do what makes you feel best, do what you want to; Buy/Wear furry stuff or don't, make sure it's what you want.