They recognize me dressed or undressed and anything else is, in my view, pretentious nonsense. Others feel that clothing interferes with their power . I contend that if a couple of ounces of fabric interferes with your power, you don't have any. Whether or not to go Skyclad should be a decision between you, your coven and the weather, and the rules of good taste and public sensibilities. By the time you are to be accepted into membership in a Coven the hard lessons have been learned and the process of Initiation should be a time of joy and fellowship, not physical fear and apprehension.
Solitary can self-initiate or dedicate.
I m afraid you ll have to ask someone else. In my tradition there are no degrees. My faith is based on the religion of the simple folk, harmony with the universe, a respect for nature and all life, a oneness with the world. Degrees are elements introduced into the Craft very recently, 19th and 20th century additions, generally stuck in by the dabblers previously mentioned. The Old Religion had no degrees, they more pretentious nonsense, in my opinion.